Gal Gadot’s Shocking Accusation: Rachel Zegler Takes the Fall for Disney’s Snow White Catastrophe
Disney’s live-action Snow White remake, a $270 million gamble that crashed spectacularly at the box office, has spawned yet another bombshell: Gal Gadot, the film’s Evil Queen, has reportedly blamed co-star Rachel Zegler for the studio’s biggest flop in years. The revelation, breaking just moments ago, has set Hollywood ablaze, pitting two of its brightest stars against each other in a public feud that threatens to deepen the wounds of an already troubled production. With Zegler’s name synonymous with the remake’s controversies, Gadot’s accusation adds fuel to a fire that’s been burning since the project’s inception. What prompted this stunning claim, and how did Snow White spiral into such chaos? Let’s dive into the drama, unpacking Gadot’s words, Zegler’s role, and the fallout for Disney’s fairy-tale legacy.
The Snow White Saga: A Dream Turned Nightmare
Disney’s Snow White remake was envisioned as a triumphant reimagining of the 1937 animated classic—the studio’s first feature-length cartoon and a cultural touchstone. Directed by Marc Webb and co-written by Greta Gerwig, the film cast Rachel Zegler, a 23-year-old Golden Globe winner for West Side Story, as Snow White, with Gal Gadot, the Wonder Woman icon, as the Evil Queen. Announced in 2016, the $270 million project aimed to blend nostalgia with modern sensibilities, promising a feminist take on the princess and a visually dazzling world. But from the start, it was beset by challenges that turned a fairy tale into a cautionary tale.
Zegler’s casting in June 2021 ignited immediate controversy. While many praised her vocal talent and the nod to diversity with her Colombian-Polish heritage, others decried her as mismatched for a character described as having “skin as white as snow,” sparking a racist backlash that Disney and Zegler condemned. Zegler’s comments at the 2022 D23 Expo poured gasoline on the fire: she called the original film’s prince a “stalker” and its story “dated,” pitching a Snow White focused on leadership over romance. Intended to hype a progressive vision, her words alienated fans who revered the 1937 classic’s whimsy, trending hashtags like #NotMySnowWhite.
The production itself was a logistical mess. A set fire, the 2023 writers’ strike, and costly reshoots ballooned the budget. Disney’s handling of the Seven Dwarfs drew particular ire: after actor Peter Dinklage criticized their depiction as stereotypical, the studio swapped live-action dwarf actors for CGI “magical creatures,” only to revert to CGI dwarfs after fan outcry. The trailer, panned for its artificial look, racked up millions of dislikes online. Zegler’s pro-Palestine posts, clashing with Gadot’s pro-Israel stance, sparked dueling boycotts, while her post-2024 election remarks targeting political figures further polarized audiences. By its March 21, 2025, release, Snow White was a cultural lightning rod. The result? A dismal $87 million global opening weekend, a projected $115 million loss, and a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score—Disney’s lowest-grossing live-action remake ever.
Gadot’s Accusation: What Sparked the Blame?
The latest twist comes from Gadot, whose reported comments pin the film’s failure squarely on Zegler. Sources claim Gadot, in a private industry event or leaked interview, expressed frustration with Zegler’s conduct, alleging her “divisive” remarks and social media activity “sabotaged” the film’s chances. One unverified quote has Gadot saying, “Rachel’s words set us up to fail—she turned fans against us before we even had a chance.” Another suggests she criticized Zegler’s lack of “professionalism,” pointing to her critiques of the original Snow White and political posts as dealbreakers for audiences. While Gadot’s exact words remain unconfirmed, the accusation has exploded online, with #GadotVsZegler trending and fans picking sides.
Gadot’s perspective isn’t baseless. Zegler’s outspokenness—dismissing the 1937 film’s prince, engaging with trolls, and posting about Palestine and U.S. politics—drew relentless scrutiny. Reports indicate Disney executives, including producer Marc Platt, repeatedly urged Zegler to tone down her rhetoric, even assigning a PR handler to vet her social media. Her refusal to fully comply, coupled with the film’s toxic reception, may have left Gadot, a seasoned star with a carefully curated image, feeling exposed. As the Evil Queen, Gadot delivered a performance critics called “magnetic,” yet her efforts were overshadowed by the film’s broader failures. Sources suggest she’s privately vented about carrying the promotional load while Zegler’s controversies dominated headlines.
Zegler’s defenders, however, cry foul. They argue Gadot’s blame ignores Disney’s systemic missteps: a bloated budget, a muddled narrative, and a marketing campaign that failed to counter the trailer’s backlash. Zegler’s comments, they say, were twisted by bad-faith critics, and her political posts reflected personal convictions, not an intent to tank the film. Supporters like actress Lily Allen have rallied behind her, noting that blaming a 23-year-old for a $115 million loss is “scapegoating at its worst.” They point to Zegler’s luminous performance—praised even in mixed reviews—as proof she wasn’t the problem. Some even speculate Gadot’s accusation stems from personal tension, citing their clashing political views as a source of friction on set.
The Roots of Tension: A Clash of Stars
The Gadot-Zegler rift didn’t emerge overnight. Their differing backgrounds and approaches likely set the stage for conflict. Gadot, 40, is a global superstar whose Wonder Woman role cemented her as a poised, diplomatic figure. Her pro-Israel advocacy, rooted in her Israeli upbringing, contrasts sharply with Zegler’s pro-Palestine stance, a divide that fueled boycott calls from both sides during Snow White’s promotion. Reports suggest the two maintained a professional facade but had minimal off-screen rapport, with Gadot reportedly frustrated by Zegler’s unfiltered social media presence.
Zegler, by contrast, is a Gen Z talent whose candor—honed on platforms like X—defines her brand. Her rise from YouTube covers to Hollywood darling was meteoric, but Snow White thrust her into a spotlight she wasn’t fully prepared for. Facing racist attacks over her casting, she leaned into defiance, pushing back against critics and doubling down on her vision for a modern Snow White. While her supporters admire her authenticity, detractors like commentator Joe Rogan have called her a “walking PR disaster,” arguing her remarks alienated the family audiences Disney needed. Gadot, whose career thrives on broad appeal, may view Zegler’s approach as reckless, especially for a film already on shaky ground.
Disney’s Role: A Studio Adrift
Gadot’s accusation also shines a light on Disney’s failures. The Snow White debacle wasn’t Zegler’s doing alone—it was a perfect storm of studio miscalculations. The decision to reimagine the dwarfs as CGI creatures, then revert to CGI dwarfs, alienated fans and dwarf actors alike. The feminist narrative, while ambitious, clashed with the 1937 film’s romantic core, leaving audiences confused. Marketing leaned heavily on Zegler’s star power but failed to counter the trailer’s backlash or unify the cast’s messaging. Disney’s scaled-back premiere and limited press access signaled a lack of faith, and insiders report executives clashed over whether to double down or cut losses.
Blaming Zegler may be convenient for Gadot and Disney, but it sidesteps broader issues. The studio’s remake formula—milking nostalgia while chasing modern relevance—is faltering, with Pinocchio and Mufasa: The Lion King also underperforming. Snow White’s $115 million loss, dwarfing Joker: Folie à Deux’s $70 million deficit, has shareholders restless, and whispers of a new Snow White with a white actress suggest Disney’s scrambling for a reset. Gadot’s comments, if true, could be a calculated move to distance herself from the wreckage, preserving her bankability while Zegler takes the heat.
The Cultural Fallout: A Divided Fandom
This feud reflects deeper tensions in Hollywood’s remake era. Snow White, like The Little Mermaid before it, became a battleground for debates about diversity, authenticity, and fan expectations. Zegler’s casting and comments made her a lightning rod for culture wars, with racist critics attacking her ethnicity and purists decrying her feminist spin. Gadot’s accusation amplifies the narrative that Zegler’s “woke” persona sank the film, a framing that commentators like Ben Shapiro have seized on. Yet Zegler’s defenders argue she’s being unfairly vilified, noting that actors of color face harsher scrutiny than their white peers—Gadot, for instance, has weathered her political posts with less fallout.
Social media has turned the clash into a spectacle, with #TeamGadot and #TeamRachel trending. The dwarf controversy, Zegler’s political posts, and now Gadot’s blame have created a perfect storm, showing how quickly narratives spiral in the digital age. For fans, it’s a bitter pill: a beloved fairy tale reduced to a Hollywood slugfest.
What’s Next for Gadot, Zegler, and Disney?
Gadot’s accusation risks her carefully crafted image. While her Evil Queen role earned raves, alienating Zegler’s fans could dent her appeal among younger audiences. Her upcoming Cleopatra project and Fast X: Part 2 will test her draw, but she’s likely to weather the storm, given her track record. A public clarification—framing her comments as frustration, not malice—could help, but silence may be her strategy to let the story fade.
Zegler faces a tougher road. Her Evita role and Met Gala nod signal resilience, but the “box office poison” label stings. An apology to Gadot is unlikely, given her defiant streak, but a focus on her craft—her Hunger Games sequel is in talks—could shift the narrative. Disney, meanwhile, must regroup. A Tangled remake is reportedly paused, and a new Snow White risks reigniting backlash. Original stories or safer remakes, like Hercules, may be the path forward.
Conclusion: No Happily Ever After
Gal Gadot’s reported blame of Rachel Zegler for Snow White’s flop is a dramatic turn in a saga already steeped in chaos. Whether driven by truth or frustration, her words underscore the high stakes of Disney’s remake machine and the personal toll on its stars. Zegler, caught in a maelstrom of her own making and others’ design, remains a polarizing figure—hero to some, villain to others. As Disney licks its wounds and fans pick sides, this fairy tale’s ending is anything but enchanted, leaving Hollywood to wonder: who’s the fairest of them all in this battle of blame?
