Variety Throws Rachel Zegler Under the Bus for Snow White Failure in Wild About Face Hit Piece—But Was Disney Behind the Wheel?

In a surprising shift from its previously glowing coverage, Variety has published a damning report outlining internal tensions surrounding Rachel Zegler’s behavior during the promotion of Snow White. The article, which dropped just days after the film’s underwhelming $85.3 million global opening, paints Zegler as a defiant and politically reckless liability—laying out a timeline of clashes with Disney executives, promotional controversies, and studio intervention.

But while Zegler’s missteps are well documented, the sudden shift in tone raises a key question: Is Variety’s new tone simply journalistic accountability—or is Disney quietly repositioning the narrative?

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios

READ: Rachel Zegler Reportedly Put Gal Gadot and Her Children at Risk With Online Activisim and Refused to Back Down — Disney Forced to Hire Security for Mother of 4

The article details Zegler’s now-infamous “Free Palestine” social media post, published just minutes after she celebrated the film’s trailer performance in August 2024. According to the report, Disney executives were blindsided by the political statement, which was unrelated to the film and quickly drew viral attention. Variety states that producer Marc Platt personally flew to New York to ask Zegler to remove the post. She refused.

Behind the scenes, Variety confirms that co-star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, received threats severe enough that Disney hired private security for her and her four children. While Zegler was not directly responsible for the threats, the article makes clear that her refusal to remove the post was seen by the studio as reckless and damaging.

The report goes on to document further friction between Zegler and the company. From her criticism of the 1937 Snow White to her controversial posts following the 2024 U.S. election, the pattern painted is one of a star who regularly challenged studio leadership and refused to course-correct—even when asked. Disney ultimately assigned a social media handler to Zegler in the lead-up to release, a detail confirmed by Variety’s sources.

Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action SNOW WHITE. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2024 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Yet as some observers have noted, many of these incidents—while problematic—are not new. Zegler’s commentary about the original Snow White and her remarks about the film’s male lead have been public knowledge since 2022. Her polarizing social media presence was well known by the time she was selected to headline one of Disney’s most iconic remakes. The studio (and Variety) stood by her through press disasters, public backlash, and creative changes.

So why is all of this surfacing now?

While Variety notes that Disney declined to comment for the article, industry veterans will recognize the pattern.

Rachel Zegler via Good Morning America YouTube

READ: China Rejects Snow White After Years of Disney Pandering to The CCP—The Message is Clear

When major projects underperform, blame is often quietly redistributed—and studio-friendly trade outlets become conduits for reputational clean-up. The article contains multiple studio and agency sources speaking on background, many of whom seem aligned in distancing the broader production from Zegler’s conduct.

To be clear, Zegler’s decisions—and her refusal to heed multiple warnings—undoubtedly contributed to the film’s public perception. But the broader campaign, creative choices, and the greenlighting of a $270 million remake with radical narrative shifts were all decisions made by Disney’s leadership, up to and including Bob Iger.

The studio controlled the message, controlled the casting, and approved the marketing strategy. Their silence in response to early warning signs was strategic, not accidental.

Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios

Now that the film has failed to meet expectations, the sudden focus on Zegler’s behavior may suggest an effort to shift the public conversation away from Disney’s broader creative strategy. Whether intentional or not, Variety’s article reads like a postmortem that leaves one name holding the bag.

It’s also worth noting that Variety—a publication often seen as close to studio PR pipelines—had previously downplayed the controversy, framed the review embargo as standard practice, and emphasized optimism around the film. This reversal could signal a larger recalibration, not just of the film’s narrative, but of how Disney wants its future projects—and spokespeople—perceived.

Honor Gillies as Barb Azure, Konstantin Taffet as Clerk Carmine and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Photo Credit: Murray Close

As the dust settles from Snow White’s disappointing launch, this may not be the last we hear of internal reassessments. Zegler’s behavior will continue to be scrutinized. But if audiences and analysts are asking tough questions, they may also want to direct a few at the company that handed her the crown in the first place.

Are you surprised that Variety would shift gears to attack Rachel Zegler? Sound off in the comments and let us know! 

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