Since the live-action remake of ‘ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (98%) ‘ was announced, controversy has surrounded the production, and Rachel Zegler , who plays the iconic princess, has been the target of criticism and attacks on social media. Zegler’s comments about her portrayal of Snow White and her take on the character sparked a wave of cyberbullying, leading her to clarify her words and express her sadness at the way they were misinterpreted.
Why was Rachel Zegler cyberbullied for her comments on ‘Snow White’?
In an interview, Rachel Zegler expressed that her version of Snow White would not focus on “dreaming about a man,” which many interpreted as a rejection of the traditional romance of the 1937 story. In one of her most talked-about statements, Zegler even called some aspects of the original film “weird, weird” and claimed that the prince “literally stalks” Snow White in the animated version.
These statements were enough for a group of die-hard fans of the original film to lash out at her on social media, accusing her of disrespecting the classic and of not being worthy of playing the Disney heroine.
Online trolls lashed out at Zegler, attacking both her career and her identity, calling her a “politically correct choice” who didn’t understand the essence of the original film. The hate quickly escalated, with accusations ranging from a lack of respect for Disney’s legacy to insinuations that her version of “Snow White” would lack the romance that defined the 1937 classic.
What did Rachel Zegler say about cyberbullying and romance in ‘Snow White’?
Rachel Zegler has been vocal about how cyberbullying has affected her emotionally. In an interview with Variety , the actress has confessed that she is saddened by the way her comments were taken out of context. “I was actually saddened that it was taken that way,” Zegler said, recalling the hate she received. For her, the discussion should not be about whether Snow White could fall in love or not, but rather about the ability of women to have multiple ambitions.
Zegler also clarified that she was never against romance in the film. “Romance is very integral to the story,” she said, dismissing rumors that her version of Snow White would completely remove this part of the tale. What she meant was that Snow White is not only looking for love, but also has other goals and dreams of her own.
Zegler defended her position that women can aspire to have a successful professional life and, at the same time, live a love story. “I would never want to pigeonhole someone and say: ‘If you want love, you can’t work,’ or ‘If you want to work, you can’t have a family.’ It’s not true,” the actress stressed.
Cyberbullying, a serious problem today
The case of Rachel Zegler is just one of many recent examples of cyberbullying in the entertainment industry. As social media has become a space where celebrities and the public interact more directly, it has also been the place where hate and destructive criticism flourish with ease. Zegler’s comments about ‘Snow White’ should not have generated such a virulent reaction, but the anonymity and lack of consequences in the digital world allow many to hide behind a screen to attack public figures.
