Disney’s upcoming Snow White star Rachel Zegler is facing backlash after calling to “free Palestine” — a phrase adopted by anti-Israel activists demanding the elimination of the Jewish state — as she promoted the new musical film. On Saturday, Disney unleashed online the first trailer for its live-action Snow White remake, featuring Zegler in the title role of Snow White, as well as Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, with a March 2025 release planned. After posting the new trailer, the 23-year-old West Side Story star expressed enthusiasm over the clip’s swift popularity.
“[I] love you all so much! thank you for the love and for 120m views on our trailer in just 24 hours! what a whirlwind,” she wrote on Monday. “[I] am in the thick of rehearsals for romeo + juliet so i’m gonna get outta here. bye for now.
” “[A]nd always remember, free palestine,” she added in a follow-up post. and always remember, free palestine. — rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) August 12, 2024 The post was met with backlash, with many having viewed the messaging as a personal jab against her Israeli co-star.
“What a sad petty and ignorant person you are,” wrote journalist Emily Schrader. What a sad petty and ignorant person you are. — Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) August 13, 2024 “Rachel Zegler is trolling her much more famous and beautiful Snow White co-star Gal Gadot,” wrote media co.