Snow White star Rachel Zegler faced brutal mockery over her strange facial expressions at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday. The 25-year-old actress, who endured a fall from grace during promotion for the controversial Disney flop last year, sparked concern with her posing at the glitzy event held at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Zegler's Met Gala Look
Zegler was seen jutting her jaw out and pouting while modelling a stunning Atelier Prabal Gurung gown, accessorized with a Jennifer Behr custom silk mask. While Zegler confirmed the blindfold referenced Paul Delaroche's famous 1833 painting The Execution of Lady Jane Grey — who was beheaded in 1554 for high treason — fans were left baffled by her over-the-top sultry expressions.
Fan Reactions
One fan wrote: 'What's with the faces?' while a second typed: 'does she have TMJ?' Others wrote: 'Is she struggling to breathe? why is she doing that? Can the instagram gang confirm if these are the new poses to try look cute!' Another comment read: 'She looks ridiculous. I wonder if these are actual facial tics at this point.' One user asked: 'What is actually wrong with her face. Does she do this on purpose?'
However, some X users defended the star, claiming she was getting into character. One wrote: 'I don't want to be in a position of defending these people, but you appear ignorant with this critique. The theme was "costumes". She has a corset facing the incorrect way and a blindfold with anguished facial expressions to exemplify the juxtaposition between wearing a beautiful costume and the pain it requires.' Another typed: 'Mocking her jaw movements is body shaming and not okay. The Met Gala is for bold, artistic expressions. Criticize if you want, but leave people's appearance alone. She is very pretty!!!!'
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Zegler for comment and has yet to hear back.
Background and Career
Zegler starred as Snow White in Disney's woke live-action adaptation last year, which was fraught with controversy, including changes to the plot and claims of behind-the-scenes tension between her and co-star Gal Gadot. After the film flopped at the box office, Zegler reinvented herself as a West End star with her performance in Evita. It was announced last week that she will reprise the role of Eva Perón on Broadway in 2027.
Previous Backlash
In a March cover story with Harper's Bazaar UK, Zegler opened up about the backlash that threatened to derail her career. She told the publication that she faced not only trolling but also threats to her safety, after being branded not Latino enough for her role as María in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, but then too Latino for Snow White. 'I was told I wasn't enough of one thing for West Side Story and too much of another for Snow White. It was a really confusing time to be in my early twenties and hearing that,' she said. 'I grew up proud of being Colombian – eating the food, wearing the dresses, drinking the coffee, doing all the things that were so intrinsic to who I was as a kid and who I am as an adult – but I do think there's an argument to be made that in the public eye at least, when you're two things, you're simultaneously nothing. But I refuse to assimilate for anybody else's comfort.' She added: 'If I'd been able to predict everything that would come my way, the threats to my safety, I would have just thrown my phone into the ocean. I think any sane person would have.'
