‘Snow White’ Star Mocks Original Film for being a ‘Love Story’
The star of Disney’s upcoming “Snow White” remake, Rachel Zegler, is facing backlash on social media after her vocal criticism of the 1937 animated classic.
Throughout a series of interviews leading up to the film’s release, Zegler has made numerous comments bashing Disney’s beloved “Snow White,” the first full-length animated film in history. While attending last year’s D23 Expo, a biennial event for Disney fans, Zegler stated a controversial interpretation of the classic story. In an interview that has resurfaced on social media, the actress asserts that the prince’s actions in the film could be interpreted as “stalking.”
“I mean, you know, 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,” Zegler complained. “Weird! Weird. So we didn’t do that this time.”
This isn’t the only time Zegler complained about the original “Snow White” film. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly last December, Zegler confessed that her first encounter with the animated classic left her “terrified.”
“I watched it once, and then I went on the ride in Disney World, which was called ‘Snow White’s Scary Adventures.’ Doesn’t sound like something a little kid would like. I was terrified of it, never revisited Snow White again,” Zegler said.
The cast has repeatedly explained that the 2024 remake is going to be significantly different than the original story. Zegler has called the film outdated when it comes to seeing women in roles of power. In a September interview with Variety, Zegler explained alongside co-star Gal Gadot that the new film will be more about “Snow White” becoming a leader than about true love.
“it’s no longer 1937,” Zegler explained. “She’s not going to be saved by the prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave and true.”
“She’s not going to be saved by the prince!” Co-star Gal Gadot chimes in.
Disney has made an obvious effort to move away from the damsel-in-distress narrative that was commonly used in classic films. By doing so, Disney is changing the beloved story of Snow White entirely.
Typically, movie remakes are successful because they embrace nostalgia. By doing the opposite of this and condemning the original story, Disney is alienating “Snow White” fans and shaming them for enjoying an “outdated” storyline. Instead of retelling a heartwarming story with a traditional message, Disney is creating another film of feminist, liberal propaganda that is likely to underperform at the box office.
