Rachel Zegler: The Authentic Hollywood Rebel With a Cause

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Rachel Zegler isn’t your typical Hollywood star, and that’s a praise. Actors such as Zegler, who possess genuine personalities that aren’t solely shaped by the influence of cameras, often spend years creating charming indie films. They develop thick skins to the industry’s politics and celebrity culture. For example, Greta Gerwig or Peter Dinklage, whose early works may seem insignificant compared to their later successes, but are equally as remarkable, if not more so.

Regardless of the factors such as luck, skill, charm, or talent, Zegler leapfrogged the usual early career steps and essentially debuted as a superstar when she joined Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story at 16 years old. It’s impossible to say “I preferred their earlier work” about her because there isn’t any preliminary work to compare; instead, her rise to stardom was immediate and impactful, similar to acts like The Sex Pistols, Billie Eilish, or The Strokes – they didn’t have a smaller body of work preceding their breakthrough success.

It might be easier for controversy to arise due to this situation. Unlike many artists who’ve faced failures, pain, and rejection, Zegler, the star of the latest Snow White, hasn’t had that experience yet. Maybe her boldness comes from this lack of “wisdom,” or perhaps she’s simply young and unaware of when to keep quiet. The wisdom she lacks is a sad kind indeed. It seems there’s no justification for Zegler’s controversies other than the sharp edge of Occam’s razor – she has strong principles and ideas, something women have historically been persecuted for. It appears that online outrage is a more modern alternative to death, so perhaps we’re slowly progressing as a society. Regardless, with a new report from Variety revealing Zegler’s dedication to her convictions, it’s time to acknowledge that she possesses more dignity and courage in her small frame than most people in public positions. In truth, she’s quite fearless.

Rachel Zegler Stood Her Ground

According to a recent report by Variety, Rachel Zegler stands firm in her convictions, regardless of potential consequences. Similar to many others, particularly from her generation, she expresses concern over what the United Nations terms as a genocide against the Palestinian population; she shares similar sentiments with Amnesty International’s assessment. Although there is no record of Zegler participating in any protests, she did voice her views through a straightforward social media post on August 12, 2024, advocating for “a free Palestine.” This simple statement seemed to cause quite the stir at Disney, as per Variety’s report.

A Disney executive shared their apprehensions about Zegler with her team, while the film’s producer, Marc Platt, personally visited her in New York. However, the actress – who experienced a strained relationship with the studio after a tumultuous West Side Story awards season and more criticism of the classic Snow White – refused to back down, and the controversial post persisted.

Following some subsequent social media updates, Platt and Zegler reconciled, with Zegler ultimately consenting to collaborate with a social media advisor to review all posts ahead of the March 21 premiere of Snow White. Remarkably gracious, Zegler didn’t sacrifice her authenticity in the process. Importantly, the “Free Palestine” post has not been erased—Zegler continues to embody confidence and strength. It’s a puzzling world we inhabit where advocating for an end to genocide is seen as contentious.

My dad traveled to New York City to scold a young actress? Any thoughts on this matter since it seems inappropriate and unwarranted. Don’t people have the freedom of speech? It’s disappointing.

Is it truly your intention to act in this manner? Indeed, my father, a key figure in producing a massive Disney intellectual property with financial stakes totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, felt compelled to abandon his family and travel cross-country to rebuke an employee who is 20 years old. This individual had blurred the lines between her personal political views and the promotion of a film she agreed to promote in exchange for a multi-million dollar contract and publicity duties. Her actions, without question, impacted the movie’s box office performance, demonstrating the importance of maturity and accountability in the workplace.

Freedom of speech doesn’t grant you the license to express whatever you wish in your professional setting, as it may lead to consequences. For instance, a large number of individuals collaborated on that film, and by using her platform for personal, immature purposes, she endangered the success of the entire project, which affects everyone from high-level executives to blue collar workers. Indulging narcissism should not be supported or reinforced.

It seems that blue-collar workers receive discounted deals on a portion of Disney’s box office earnings… The idea that Zegler’s political views are to blame for the low earnings of the 2025 Snow White movie is ridiculous and insensitive. People had already formed their opinions about Snow White before the trailer was released, and Disney has been facing audience dissatisfaction, particularly from conservative viewers, for quite some time now. Their live-action adaptations have had mixed results, with several recent flops. I’m sorry, Disney, but a young actress advocating for Palestinian rights is not the convenient scapegoat you believe it to be.

Everybody Hates Rachel: Why?

It’s rather puzzling and amusing, yet disheartening at the same time, that countless enthusiasts of the classic tale of Snow White and Disney fans are adamantly refusing to watch the new live-action film featuring Rachel Zegler, going as far as criticizing it harshly. One might wonder, what’s the cause behind this? Is it purely political because Zegler has expressed her disdain for MAGA and Donald Trump? However, many people, including Zegler, have held similar views. Should that alone prevent an artist from being appreciated? I personally may not align with Bo Derek’s views on gender politics, but I appreciate the movie Tommy Boy and think she’s quite talented.

Zegler has faced criticism for numerous reasons, primarily due to her expressed views and convictions. I admire her boldness in expressing her thoughts; those who disagree simply disapprove of what she says, unlike Gina Carano. Zegler has indeed shown intense passion, as evidenced by a series of posts on her Instagram story where she stated that there is “a profound, profound illness in this nation.” She went further to express her hope that Trump supporters, Trump voters, and Trump himself would never experience peace, foreshadowing “another four years of hatred, pushing us towards a world I don’t wish to inhabit.” She ended her statement with the phrase “Fk Donald Trump.

During the election, emotions ran high on all fronts. I personally appreciate it when people express their genuine opinions rather than using symbolic actions like posting a photo of themselves with a cat to indicate they’re voting Democrat (as some might interpret as a form of white feminism similar to Taylor Swift). Nonetheless, Zegler acknowledged her mistake and seemed to understand that her criticism towards voters might have been unwarranted. In a statement, she wrote:

“I apologize for any offense I may have caused. I recognize now that my comments might have been misguided, and I deeply regret them.

Hello there! I must admit, I made a misstep in my recent Instagram post regarding the election. My feelings took over, and I regret allowing anger and prejudice to cloud my judgement. We’ve been witnessing a lot of tension lately, and it’s clear that we need more peace and understanding, not less. I’m truly sorry for adding fuel to the negative dialogue.

I firmly believe in everyone’s right to their own opinion, even if they differ from mine. This week has been emotional for many of us, but let’s remember the importance of respectful discourse and the pursuit of a brighter future together.

Zegler voiced her thoughts on Snow White, stating that the film was outdated and Prince Charming came off as a stalker. This is similar to opinions held by many Letterboxd reviewers of the same movie. It’s not surprising that she has an opinion; after all, it’s a nearly 90-year-old film, so calling it “dated” isn’t particularly contentious. In fact, Disney is remaking it due to this very reason. Moreover, it’s been pointed out by numerous individuals that the morals and politics of older Disney films can be debatable. For instance, Beauty and the Beast revolves around themes such as abuse, kidnapping, and Stockholm Syndrome. Despite these elements, it remains a classic. So, let’s keep calm.

Why So Serious?

It seems unfair to expect everyone, including artists, to remain neutral on all topics. The current climate often turns even the smallest opinions into fuel for hate mobs, making it challenging for individuals to express themselves freely. However, isn’t it refreshing when someone like Zegler doesn’t seem controlled by corporate influences or financial masters? One might wonder if her critics desire people to suppress their views and serve as mere representatives of corporations instead? Aren’t figures like Gina Carano, Mel Gibson, Dennis Quaid, and Zachary Levi praised for speaking their minds? Do Zegler’s detractors understand the irony in this situation?

Just like many big companies, Disney isn’t always my cup of tea, but I must admit that some of their productions, such as “WALL-E” and possibly others, have caught my interest. However, I have no intention of watching the latest “Snow White” movie. This is not due to any racial bias or expectation for actors in fairy tales to be politically neutral. Instead, making negative comments and bombarding reviews with hateful remarks based on such beliefs seems incredibly pitiful to me.

Meanwhile, it appears that Zegler doesn’t seem to mind either way. Feel free to express your thoughts about her on Facebook; she’s unfazed. However, do take a moment to watch her unexpected guest spot on Office Hours with Tim Heidecker. There, alongside her fellow film Y2K co-stars and director Kyle Mooney, Zegler comes across as laid-back, humorous, friendly, and intellectually sharp. She seems like a delightful companion. Instead of harboring negativity towards her, consider the reasons behind your animosity – is she really worth getting upset over? Is this stranger’s opinions truly affecting you so much? Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate if you are living your best life, considering Rachel Zegler seems to be thriving. Lastly, let’s advocate for peace in Palestine.

Snow White is now in theaters from Walt Disney Studios.

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2025-03-27 03:32