Disney’s live-action remake of Tangled hasn’t even entered production yet, and it’s already generating drama for the Mouse House. The latest wave of speculation centers on rumors that Sabrina Carpenter was in talks to play Rapunzel.
More specifically, the rumors surround why the pop star and former Disney Channel alum reportedly won’t be taking on the iconic role. A new post circulating on X has ignited widespread debate, and it’s raised far more questions about Disney’s casting priorities than the studio probably intended.
Disney Rejected Sabrina Carpenter for Being “Too Pretty”
The entire conversation erupted after an industry-scooper @MyTimeToShineHello shared a post on X claiming insider knowledge of the Rapunzel casting process.
Yes, Sabrina Carpenter had a meeting with Disney about playing Rapunzel in the live-action Tangled movie. However, the company felt she was “too pretty” and wanted someone who looks a bit more ordinary for the role. Bella Hadid also auditioned for the part but did not get it. pic.twitter.com/zGIrBPLNzd
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) November 20, 2025
The post reads: “Yes, Sabrina Carpenter had a meeting with Disney about playing Rapunzel in the live action Tangled movie. However, the company felt she was ‘too pretty’ and wanted someone who looks a bit more ordinary for the role.”
The same post added that supermodel Bella Hadid also auditioned for the part but did not move forward.
Rapunzel in Disney’s Tangled – YouTube, Walt Disney Animation Studios
While MyTimeToShineHello claimed Bella Hadid auditioned for the role, in a recent Vogue feature, Gigi Hadid, Bella’s older sister, revealed that she auditioned for the role of Rapunzel. According to the profile, Gigi explained that she even took singing lessons during fashion month to prepare for the part, embracing the challenge despite knowing Disney would likely choose a trained vocalist.
It’s possible that both Hadid sisters auditioned, only Gigi has confirmed her involvement.
Sabrina Carpenter takes a lie detector test – YouTube, Vanity Fair
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Disney has not commented, and Carpenter has made no public statement—meaning all information currently available is tied to reported insider commentary rather than confirmed studio positions.
But that hasn’t stopped the internet from taking sides. Many fans immediately pointed out the strange logic behind allegedly ruling out a major star because she’s “too pretty,” a criticism some view as self-inflicted chaos for a studio already struggling with multiple high-profile production controversies.
Disney Reportedly Looked at Multiple Names Before the Rumor Surfaced
Sabrina Carpenter had long been considered a top pick among fans for Rapunzel—not only because of her voice, but because she previously worked with Disney. Industry chatter earlier this year also linked actress Florence Pugh to the role, a recurring name in Disney circles due to her work on other studio projects.
More recent speculation suggests Disney has expanded the list to include an unnamed performer from The White Lotus, though no additional identifying information has been publicly confirmed.
Sabrina Carpenter waves in WIRED interview – YouTube, Wired
In other words, the casting landscape is wide open, fluid, and apparently subject to all sorts of unexpected internal criteria—some of which have now become very public.
Disney accelerated development of Tangled after Lilo & Stitch performed well, following a production pause that came after Snow White crashed and burned at the global box office. With this shift, casting decisions have become an especially sensitive topic for the studio.
Where Things Stand Now
Here’s what is verifiably known:
- Sabrina Carpenter did reportedly meet with Disney.
- An X insider claims Disney thought she was “too pretty.”
- No actress has been officially selected for Rapunzel.
- Disney has not commented on any casting decisions.
Sabrina Carpenter talks to CBS – YouTube, CBS Sunday Morning
Whether Sabrina Carpenter is truly out of the running for Rapunzel—or whether this is just another rumor caught in the algorithm—remains unknown.
Do you believe that Disney passed on Sabrina Carpenter for Rapunzel because she’s “too pretty?” Sound off in the comments and let us know!
How is she “to pretty” when she is just a Painfully Average Bimbo?
She is NOT hot at all, and is plain as can be. It’s like saying Paris Hilton was hot in the 2000’s, or Jessica Simpson was. You put enough makeup on a Blonde and they all loo the same………..
Paris and Jessica were still good looking after the makeup came off, even if they were vapid stupid whores. This Sabrina thing has always looked like a troon to me, especially with that drag queen style of makeup. I know that’s the current style for some reason, like that Chappell Roan creature, but as a heterosexual man I find drag queens repulsive, and why any woman would want to look like one is beyond comprehension to me.
They were just being nice to her.
It takes filters and 5 lbs of make-up to make her look nice. Just remove those and you get instant ugly girl!
Regardless who plays the role it will be garbage, because this is all Disney are capable of making.
I swear, they are set on casting that black actress. And I approve it. I want to see how they will shape her fair to let the man up there.