Snow White's Rachel Zegler Speaks Out On 'Alarming' Online Hate Campaigns

Aaron Fonseca
Jun 24
2 min read

Rachel Zegler's casting became a topic of conversation leading up to the unsatisfying live-action Snow White release, and now she's speaking out about the online hate she received.

“It’s really alarming at times," Zegler told i-D magazine. Reportedly, she was sent a death threat while appearing in the play Romeo and Juliet; she responded by tagging the FBI in her X/Twitter reply. “I can really only echo [Hacks actor] Hannah Einbinder in saying that a platform becomes a responsibility, and that responsibility is ours to use as we please."

The day the trailer for Snow White was shared online, the actress famously posted, “and always remember, free palestine," on her X account. Zegler has additionally been outspoken about the current president of the United States and his administration.

“My compassion has no boundaries, is really what it is,” Zegler told i-D. “And my support for one cause does not denounce any others. That’s always been at the core of who I am as a person. It’s the way I was raised. There are obviously things that are at stake by being outspoken, but nothing is worth innocent lives. My heart doesn’t have a fence around it, and if that is considered my downfall? There are worse things.”

Rachel Zegler Faced Racism After Being Cast as The Live-Action Snow White

Zegler faced racist backlash following the announcement that she would play Snow White in Disney's reboot. “I interpret people’s feelings about this film as a passion for it,” Zegler said in an interview with Vogue Mexico, translated by The Hollywood Reporter. “What an honor to be part of something that people feel so passionate about. We’re not always going to have the same feelings as everyone around us, and all we can do is give the best of ourselves.”

Snow White didn't receive very good reviews, scoring a mere 39% percent on RottenTomatoes, but Zegler herself won acclaim for her performance. Katcy Stephan of Variety said on X, "Rachel Zegler is a shining supernova in Snow White, beautifully embodying the graceful, gentle nature of the OG Disney princess." And despite all the backlash, Zegler's career isn't going anywhere. Right now she's appearing as the title character in Evita on the West End, and next year she'll play a character called Nicky in the comedy She Gets It From Me alongside Marisa Tomei. And it seems likely that her activism will continue, as well.