Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White has stirred outrage, owing largely to remarks made by its lead actress, Rachel Zegler. While her interpretation of the legendary character aims to provide a contemporary perspective, deviating greatly from the 1937 animated classic, her comments about the film have sparked disagreement.
Snow White’s launch on Sunday fell short of expectations in both domestic and international markets. The much-anticipated Disney film earned USD 43 million in the United States, and while it was expected to gross over USD 100 million worldwide, it only grossed USD 87.3 million. A USD 42.2 million haul in the domestic market and USD 43.9 million internationally, for a global total of USD 86.1 million, were the final weekend data presented on Monday, which showed the figures falling even further.
Normally, these cuts wouldn’t be problematic for a product aimed at women and families, but Snow White’s high production costs of $250 million, before an additional $100 million or more in promotional expenses, have put it in potentially explosive terrain.
Why did Zegler’s remarks on Snow White blow up into controversy?
Zegler’s comments on the original version of Snow White went viral where she described the classic tale as outdated. She went ahead to call the prince in the story a “guy who literally stalks her,” as reported by Marca. In a separate interview with ExtraTV, she restated her views about the classic version.
Zegler told the media outlet, “The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird. So we didn’t do that this time. It’s an inward journey she embarks on to discover her true self. She meets a number of individuals along the way that make the adventure truly spectacular.” However, her words sparked fury among original film fans, who saw them as disrespectful to the great tale and Disney’s legacy.
Zegler suffers backlash for her race throughout the Movie release
Zegler also experienced criticism for her ethnicity after being cast as Snow White. Many people argued that she was unable to play a role who has previously been represented as having pale skin, despite the fact that Zegler is a Latina actor. When asked about the backlash, she said that it escalated to the point where people came up near her home and screamed profanities at her, as reported by Marca.
She said, “For being brown. For having brown skin. For playing Snow White. There was a lot of bullying from a specific group of people. They would show up to my flat and yell profanities.”
However, the outcry did not dampen Zegler’s enthusiasm for playing the Disney princess. She also stated that the updated version of Snow White seeks to maintain the heart of the original story. It is also making it appropriate for a young audience.
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