Rachel Zegler’s Snow White PR Debacle: Publicist’s Exit Signals Trouble for the Disney Star

Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who captivated audiences as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, has faced a turbulent journey since her casting as Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake. The $270 million production, released on March 21, 2025, was envisioned as a bold reimagining of the 1937 animated classic, but it has instead become a case study in public relations missteps. Reports of Zegler’s publicist abruptly quitting amid a collapsed PR strategy have amplified the narrative of a film plagued by controversy, from casting backlash to polarizing social media posts. This article delves into the events leading to the publicist’s departure, the factors fueling the Snow White PR crisis, and what this means for Zegler’s burgeoning career.

The Snow White Remake: A High-Stakes Venture

Disney’s Snow White, directed by Marc Webb and starring Zegler as the titular princess alongside Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, aimed to modernize the fairy tale for a contemporary audience. The film replaced the traditional prince with a Robin Hood-esque bandit named Jonathan, shifted Snow White’s arc toward leadership and self-discovery, and used CGI to depict the seven dwarfs, a decision that sparked criticism from actors like Peter Dinklage for not casting performers with dwarfism. With a budget ballooning to $270 million before marketing, the stakes were immense. Disney hoped Zegler’s star power, fresh from her Golden Globe win and roles in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Y2K, would draw younger audiences, while Gadot’s established fame would broaden the appeal.

The film’s promotional campaign kicked off with a splash at Disney’s D23 fan event on August 9, 2024, where Zegler introduced the first trailer, which garnered 120 million views in 24 hours. However, the excitement was quickly overshadowed by a series of controversies, many tied to Zegler’s public statements and social media activity. The reported departure of her publicist, covered in YouTube videos and industry chatter on May 17–18, 2025, marks a low point in a campaign that struggled to balance Zegler’s outspoken persona with Disney’s family-friendly brand.

The Publicist’s Exit: A Breaking Point

The claim that Zegler’s publicist quit stems from social media buzz and YouTube videos, which allege that the PR strategy for Snow White “completely fell apart” due to Zegler’s unfiltered comments and the resulting backlash. While no official statement from Zegler or her team confirms the departure, the narrative gained traction amid reports of Disney’s frustration with her public image. A Variety article on March 26, 2025, detailed how Disney assigned Zegler a “social media guru” to vet her posts after a series of controversial statements, suggesting internal concerns about her PR management. The publicist’s alleged exit is framed as a response to an untenable situation, with the PR team unable to mitigate the damage from Zegler’s actions.

The crisis began in 2022, when Zegler, then 21, described the original Snow White as “weird” and “dated,” calling the prince a “stalker” and emphasizing that the remake would focus on Snow White’s leadership rather than romance. These comments, made in interviews with Variety and ExtraTV, resurfaced in August 2023, sparking outrage among fans who felt she disrespected Disney’s legacy. The backlash intensified in August 2024, when Zegler posted on X, “and always remember, free palestine,” in the same thread as a promotional message for the Snow White trailer. The post, which amassed 8.8 million views, prompted Disney producer Marc Platt to fly to New York to discuss its repercussions, as it coincided with death threats against Gadot, an Israeli actress and vocal supporter of Israel. Zegler’s refusal to delete the post reportedly strained her relationship with Disney.

The final straw came post-election in November 2024, when Zegler posted on Instagram, “F*** Donald Trump” and wished that Trump supporters “never know peace.” The comments alienated a significant portion of the film’s potential audience, prompting Disney to intervene again. Zegler issued a corporate-style apology, but the damage was done. Industry insiders, including a source quoted by Page Six on March 13, 2025, claimed Disney “doesn’t know what to do” with Zegler, highlighting her insistence on airing progressive views as a challenge for the studio’s PR team. The publicist’s reported departure reflects the overwhelming pressure of managing a star whose candor clashed with Disney’s tightly controlled image.

A Perfect Storm of Controversies

The Snow White PR crisis was not solely Zegler’s doing. The film faced backlash from its inception in June 2021, when Zegler’s casting as a Latina actress of Colombian-Polish descent drew racist criticism from a vocal minority who argued she didn’t fit the “skin as white as snow” description. Zegler faced harassment, including profanities shouted outside her apartment, which she detailed in a Cosmopolitan interview in March 2025. The decision to use CGI dwarfs also alienated advocates for disability representation, while the film’s feminist reimagining—emphasizing Snow White’s agency over romance—drew accusations of “woke” pandering from conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro and Megyn Kelly.

Zegler’s comments about the original film, while grounded in a desire to highlight the remake’s modern perspective, were perceived as dismissive. Her refusal to sing “Someday My Prince Will Come,” citing its focus on a “stalker” prince, further alienated fans of the 1937 classic. The film’s European premiere in Segovia, Spain, on March 12, 2025, was a scaled-back affair, attended only by Zegler and director Webb, with no major press invited—a move Daily Mail described as Disney’s attempt to control the narrative after “PR nightmares.” The absence of Gadot, reportedly due to tensions over Zegler’s political posts, underscored the fractured campaign.

The film’s box office performance cemented the crisis. Snow White opened with a disappointing $43 million domestically and $87 million globally, far below the $600–700 million needed to break even on its $350 million total cost, including marketing. A 66% drop in its second weekend and a projected $115 million loss for Disney fueled narratives of failure, with some blaming Zegler’s polarizing image. Review-bombing on IMDb and boycotts from both Zegler’s and Gadot’s detractors further hampered the film’s prospects.

The Role of Disney’s PR Strategy

Disney’s handling of the Snow White campaign exacerbated the crisis. Industry analysts, like Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations, argue that Disney failed to “nip it in the bud” when Zegler first criticized the original film in 2022, allowing her to control the narrative. The studio’s decision to reduce Zegler’s presence in trailers—cutting her screen time by nearly 50% in favor of Gadot and nostalgic imagery—signaled a lack of confidence in her as the film’s face. The scaled-down premiere and limited press access further isolated Zegler, making her a scapegoat for broader production issues, including costly reshoots and COVID-related delays.

Zegler’s publicist, tasked with navigating this minefield, faced an uphill battle. Disney’s strict PR protocols, described by a Reddit user who worked on Tron Legacy as requiring actors to stick to pre-scripted talking points, clashed with Zegler’s unfiltered style. Her 2022 complaint about not being invited to the Oscars for West Side Story—despite being in production for Snow White—set a precedent for public grievances that Disney struggled to contain. The publicist’s alleged exit suggests a breakdown in managing these tensions, with Zegler’s refusal to align with Disney’s expectations proving too much.

Zegler’s Supporters and the Backlash Against Backlash

Despite the PR crisis, Zegler has a robust support base. Fans on X and journalists like David Ehrlich and Mark Harris rallied behind her, with Harris calling Variety’s March 26 article a “hit job” designed to blame Zegler for the film’s failure. Over 50 journalists signed an open letter condemning the piece, arguing it unfairly targeted Zegler’s politics. Actress Melissa Barrera, fired from Scream 7 for her pro-Palestine stance, praised Zegler’s integrity, while fans highlighted the racist harassment she endured, which Disney’s security measures reportedly did not address as they did for Gadot.

Supporters argue that Zegler’s comments on Snow White were scripted by Disney’s PR team to emphasize the remake’s feminist angle, a claim supported by a Reddit user familiar with Disney’s rigid promotional protocols. Her political posts, while divisive, reflect a broader trend among Gen Z celebrities who prioritize authenticity over corporate restraint. The double standard is evident: male actors like Harrison Ford and Robert Pattinson have criticized their franchises (Star Wars and Twilight) with minimal backlash, while Zegler and Halle Bailey faced disproportionate scrutiny for similar candor.

The Impact on Zegler’s Career

The Snow White debacle has placed Zegler at a crossroads. Her talent is undeniable—her Golden Globe win, Broadway success in Romeo + Juliet (2024), and upcoming roles in A24’s Y2K and a comedy-drama with Marisa Tomei signal a bright future. However, the PR crisis has damaged her public image, with some outlets, like Daily Mail on March 28, 2025, suggesting she is “pivoting to safer creative ground” with a folk-pop cover for MCC Theater’s Studio Sessions album. Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, publicly criticized Zegler’s “immature” and “narcissistic” behavior in a deleted Instagram post, reflecting industry frustration.

The publicist’s exit, whether voluntary or forced, underscores the challenges of managing a star whose authenticity resonates with fans but alienates others. Disney’s reported regret over casting Zegler, cited by The New York Sun on November 19, 2024, and the studio’s pause on a Tangled remake indicate broader repercussions for their live-action strategy. Yet, Zegler’s resilience—seen in her refusal to delete her “Free Palestine” post and her apology for the Trump comments—suggests she will weather the storm.

Lessons from the Crisis

The Snow White PR fiasco highlights the evolving dynamics of celebrity and corporate PR in the social media age. Studios like Disney face a delicate balance: supporting stars’ freedom of expression while protecting multi-million-dollar investments. Zegler’s case reveals the risks of mismanaging a young, outspoken star in a high-profile project. Her publicist’s departure, whether due to frustration or strategic differences, reflects the immense pressure of navigating a polarized audience, where every tweet can spark a firestorm.

For Zegler, the crisis is a learning curve. Her vocal talent and charisma remain her strongest assets, as evidenced by her performance of “Waiting on a Wish” in Segovia, which drew praise despite the event’s modest scale. Future projects, like her West End debut in Evita (June 2025), offer a chance to reclaim the narrative through her artistry. For Disney, the Snow White loss—projected at $115 million—demands a reevaluation of how they handle casting, promotion, and controversy in an era where fans demand both authenticity and respect for tradition.

Conclusion

Rachel Zegler’s Snow White journey, marked by her publicist’s reported exit, encapsulates the challenges of stardom in a hyper-connected world. The PR strategy’s collapse, fueled by Zegler’s unfiltered comments, Disney’s reactive measures, and a polarized audience, turned a promising remake into a cautionary tale. While Zegler bears responsibility for her provocative statements, the racist harassment she endured and Disney’s failure to unify the campaign share the blame. As Zegler moves forward, her talent and determination will likely outshine this chapter, but the Snow White saga will remain a lesson in the high cost of PR missteps. The spotlight remains on Zegler—not for a breakdown, but for her next act.