Disney’s $300m-plus reboot of 'Snow White' has been plagued by controversies, from sexism and race rows to a dispute over the seven dwarves. The film, starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, has become a flashpoint in America’s culture wars and the Gaza conflict.
Zegler, who is Latina, criticised the original 1937 film as 'weird' and its Prince Charming as a stalker, sparking backlash from right-wing commentators. The decision to keep or replace the seven dwarves also drew debate, highlighting the challenge of updating 1930s stereotypes.
More recently, the stars clashed over the Israel-Palestine conflict. Gadot, an Israeli former soldier, condemned Hamas’s 7 October attack and reportedly organised a screening of a film about it. Zegler, a Palestinian rights advocate, posted 'free palestine' in response to the trailer, leading to calls for a boycott of the film.
Alia Malak of the Palestinian BDS movement urged a boycott due to Gadot's role as 'Israel’s cultural ambassador', despite Zegler’s pro-Palestinian stance. Joel Petlin, a school superintendent, accused Zegler of goading her co-star, noting that many people worked on the film.
The controversy underscores the risks of reviving classic tales in a polarised era, where brand recognition can backfire amid social and political divisions.
