Topline

Actress Rachel Zegler, who plays Snow White in Disney’s upcoming live adaptation, apologized Thursday for comments she made after Donald Trump was named president-elect. Kelly called on Disney to fire Zegler over them.

Key facts

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What have been Rachel Zegler’s other controversies?

Zegler has been embroiled in a number of other controversies. She was criticized last year by Kelly and other right-wing commentators after an interview of hers resurfaced in which she said the new film would be a modern rendition that does not show Snow White being “saved by the prince.” Zegler said her character would dream of “becoming the leader she knows she can be” rather than “dreaming about true love.” Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro criticized Zegler’s attempt to turn the film into a “girl boss” story, and Kelly said the film was “radicalized to check every box,” criticizing Disney for casting Zegler, which is Spanish, while the story about a princess with ‘skin as white as snow’. Zegler was also criticized for calling the original “Snow White” a “weird,” “extremely dated” story that focused “on her love story with a man who literally stalks her.” Before the “Snow White” controversies, Zegler made headlines for saying that doing press for “West Side Story” (in which she co-starred with Ansel Elgort) was “a real blow” because she was constantly asked about the alleged assault on Elgort.

Tangent

When she told Disney they should redo “Snow White” — which will be released in theaters in March — Kelly pointed out that they fired Gina Carano “for a lot less than this crap.” Carano claimed that Disney and Lucasfilm fired her from “The Mandalorian” in 2021 after she posted things on X, formerly known as Twitter, that were not “in keeping with the acceptable narrative of the time.” Carano announced a lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm that was partially funded by billionaire – and now Trump supporter – Elon Musk and she was enabled to vindicate her rights to freedom of expression on X and the ability to work without harassment, intimidation or discrimination.”

What to pay attention to

Disney’s response. The company remained mum on Zegler’s comments as of Friday afternoon, and Forbes contacted the company for comment.

Important background

Zegler was among the celebrities who reacted negatively in the days after Trump’s victory last Tuesday. Billie Eilish called Trump’s victory “a war on women,” actresses Hilary Duff and Jessica Alba shared a post saying women are the “heartbeat of progress,” and NBA star LeBron James posted a photo with his daughter wearing the promise ‘to protect you. Zegler, 23, rose to fame after starring in the reboot of Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story.’ She went on to play roles in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and the “Hunger Games” spin-off, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.”

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