There’s something very familiar about the advance “backlash” to the live-action Snow White movie. If anything, it feels like several organized hate campaigns have joined forces to harm this film: the misogynists who never want to see women in lead roles; the racists who are salty about a Latina playing Snow White; and the people who have extremely strong feelings about Israel and Israeli actors. The thing I hate the most is that the film looks and sounds like trash, but I feel the need to defend the movie and the actors because there are so many despicable people making moves against them.
The film stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White, and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, and reportedly, the two women did not and do not get along whatsoever. Disney was also worried about organized protests at the premiere this weekend, so the premiere basically excluded 90% of the press and it was extremely closed off to the public. Just before the premiere, Page Six published an absolutely unhinged interview with the son of Disney animator David Hand (who worked on the animated Snow White). The son was practically foaming at the mouth as he trashed “woke” Rachel Zegler and wokeification of Snow White (which wasn’t even Zegler’s call, you know?). I wondered how far this would go, and then People Magazine published this piece ahead of the premiere too, all about how Gadot and Zegler really did not get along.
Tensions surrounding Disney’s Snow White remake may extend to stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, according to sources. While noting that Zegler is 23, a source tells PEOPLE that the actress “has nothing in common with Gal Gadot, a mom of four kids.”
“On top of that, their political views differ, adding to the tension,” continues the source.
Reps for Zegler and Gadot did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Tensions have plagued Disney’s live-action remake of the 1937 animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs well ahead of its March 21 theatrical release. Zegler and Gadot have appeared at multiple events in the past to promote their long-delayed film, including at Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022 and at the recent Academy Awards, where they took the stage to present the best visual effects category together. The Wonder Woman star did not attend Snow White’s European premiere in Spain on March 12. A source familiar with the situation told PEOPLE Gadot was “never supposed to be in Spain” and was instead doing press in New York.
“This isn’t like a ‘stay away from me’ situation,” the source said of the stars’ dynamic. “They were at the Oscars together. They’ll be together this weekend.”
A third source also pointed out that the two costars “have a huge age gap and very different political views.” (The Israeli-born Gadot, who served in the Israel Defense Forces, has advocated for the release of Israeli hostages, while Zegler has voiced support on social media for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.)
“Gal is annoyed by the movie drama,” the third source tells PEOPLE. “She enjoyed filming. She was fine with Rachel but they are not friends. They have nothing in common… They did a job together and that’s it.”
According to the second source, Gadot doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Zegler when it comes to such comments. “Gal’s attitude is that you don’t criticize and cause drama for a project you signed on to do. She just doesn’t get it.”
“She was fine with Rachel but they are not friends. They have nothing in common… They did a job together and that’s it.” Yeah, given that Disney sent the two women out to present together at the Oscars, it’s clear that Gal and Rachel are fine with doing the bare minimum to pose together and promote this together. It’s not going to be like the Wicked promotion, where Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande clearly adored each other 24-7. This is “sure, I will pose for a couple of photos with my costar and that’s it.” I also wonder if Disney would prefer that people talk about a Gadot-vs-Zegler beef rather than the actual film, you know?
Fashion notes from the premiere: Gal wore Chloe, Rachel wore Dior. I like Rachel’s dress and I find it very “Disney princess.” Gal was sort of theme-dressing too.
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