Rachel Zegler Apologizes For Anti-Trump Comments Post Election—Fending Off Her Latest Controversy
by Molly Bohannon · ForbesTopline
Actress Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White in Disney’s upcoming live adaptation, apologized Thursday for comments she made after Donald Trump was named the president-elect, saying she “let [her] emotions get the best of” her—after conservative media personality Megyn Kelly called for Disney to fire Zegler over them.
Key Facts
Zegler took to Instagram after Trump was elected over Vice President Kamala Harris and said the election left her “speechless” and “heartbroken” and that she hoped “Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself may never know peace.”
Kelly went after Zegler for the comments on her SiriusXM show Thursday, calling Zegler “a pig,” saying there was “something wrong with this person” and telling Disney they would have to “redo their film” as Zegler should be fired.
Zegler apologized for the message Thursday, saying in an Instagram story “hatred and anger have caused us to move further and further away from peace and understanding,” but she believes “everyone has a right to their opinion even when it differs from my own.”
What Have Rachel Zegler’s Other Controversies Been?
Zegler has been embroiled in a number of other controversies. She was criticized by Kelly and other right-wing commentators last year after an interview of hers resurfaced in which she said the new film would be a modern portrayal that does not show Snow White “be(ing) saved by the prince.” Zegler said her character would be dreaming about “becoming the leader she knows she can be” rather than “dreaming about true love.” Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro criticized Zegler’s effort to make the film a “girl boss” story, and Kelly said the movie had been “radicalized to check every box they can,” criticizing Disney for casting Zegler, who is Hispanic, when the story is about a princess with “skin as white as snow.” Zegler was also criticized for calling the original “Snow White” a “weird,” “extremely dated” story focusing “on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her.” Prior to “Snow White” controversies, Zegler made headlines for saying doing press for “West Side Story”—which she costarred in with Ansel Elgort—was “a real gut punch” because she was constantly asked about Elgort’s alleged sexual assault.
Tangent
When telling Disney they would need to redo “Snow White”—which is set to hit theaters next March—Kelly pointed to them firing Gina Carano “for far less than this nonsense.” Carano alleged Disney and Lucasfilm fired her in 2021 from “The Mandalorian” after she posted things on X, formerly known as Twitter, that were not “in line with the acceptable narrative of the time.” Carano announced a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm that was in part funded by billionaire—and now Trump supporter—Elon Musk and X, which said in statement at the time it was “proud to provide financial support for Gina Carano’s lawsuit, empowering her to seek vindication of her free speech rights on X and the ability to work without bullying, harassment, or discrimination.”
What To Watch For
Disney’s response. The company has remained quiet on Zegler’s comments as of early Friday afternoon, and Forbes reached out to the company for comment.
Key Background
Zegler was one of a number of celebrities to react negatively in the days following Trump’s victory last Tuesday. Billie Eilish called Trump’s victory “a war on women,” actresses Hilary Duff and Jessica Alba shared a message saying women are the “heartbeat of progress,” and NBA star LeBron James posted a photo with his daughter with a promise to “protect you.” Zegler, 23, rose to fame after starring in Steven Spielberg's “West Side Story” reboot. She went on to have roles in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and the “Hunger Games” spinoff, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”