Actress Rachel Zegler found herself at the centre of a fashion faux pas debate following a revealing wardrobe choice at a high-profile New York event. The 24-year-old star attended New York Magazine’s Culturati 50 Party on Thursday in a striking, yet controversial, sheer purple gown.
The Sartorial Slip-Up
Zegler opted for a one-shoulder plum dress that was almost entirely see-through. The garment featured a neck strap, a ruched waist, and a long slit running up the thigh. She accessorised with matching purple heels and wore white underwear beneath the diaphanous fabric. However, it was the visible outline of her nipple pasties that caught the attention of sharp-eyed fans, leading many to declare the look a fashion misstep.
The reaction on social media platform X was swift and largely critical. One user insisted, "If you're going to do sheer you can't wear pasties. You have to commit." Another agreed, stating, "If you’re gonna wear a dress like this either go all the way or wear diamond pasties/undies. This just looks cheap and gross." Some speculated the dress was not intended to be so transparent, while others blamed her stylist, with one tweet reading, "Stylist deserves jail time."
Backlash Echoes Box Office Disappointment
The awkward red carpet moment arrives just eight months after the release of Disney's live-action Snow White, in which Zegler played the titular role. The film, released in March, was branded one of Disney's worst-performing movies in recent years. It faced immense backlash over perceived 'woke' changes to the original story and controversy surrounding Zegler's own comments during the press tour.
The movie's poor reception was reflected in its dismal box office numbers and critical panning. Despite the film's lacklustuster performance, co-star Gal Gadot, who played the Evil Queen, recently expressed a desire to return for a sequel, telling Us Weekly, "I would love to do that. Yes. Tell [Disney CEO] Bob [Iger]. Bob, I’ll do that."
Behind-the-Scenes Tensions
Amid the Snow White press tour, rumours swirled of a behind-the-scenes clash between Gadot and Zegler. The tension was believed to stem from their opposing views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Gadot being Israeli. The film itself was a point of contention, having undergone a politically correct revamp from the 1937 original. Zegler supported the contemporary take in 2022, telling Vanity Fair, "It needed that," while actor Peter Dinklage famously criticised Disney for remaking a "backward story."
Ultimately, Disney reimagined the Seven Dwarfs as a diverse group of 'magical creatures' of varying heights, genders, and races. The film's journey from controversy to commercial failure now forms a notable backdrop to Zegler's latest headline-grabbing appearance, proving that for the young star, scrutiny extends far beyond the silver screen.
