The Shocking Truth Behind the Outrage Over the New 'Snow White' Movie

Rachel Zegler. Photo Image Press/Shutterstock

Disney's upcoming live-action film, a remake of Snow White, has generated mixed reactions despite the success of 2023's The Little Mermaid. Although plans for a live-action adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs have been in the works since 2016, production only began in earnest in 2021. In June of that year, Deadline announced that Rachel Zegler had secured the role of the iconic princess, who first graced the screens in Disney's inaugural full-length animated film back in 1937.

Zegler, who has Colombian and Polish heritage, explained in an interview with Vanity Fair in October 2022 that people have referred to our version of Snow White as the "PC Snow White," but she believes it was necessary. She emphasizes that the original cartoon is 85 years old and that our adaptation offers a refreshing perspective by showcasing a young woman with a purpose beyond waiting for her prince.

However, Zegler encountered immediate backlash from racist trolls who expressed their displeasure over a Latina woman being cast as Snow White. Additionally, some critics expressed concerns about how the film would portray the iconic dwarves.

Peter Dinklage, who has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, expressed his confusion during a January 2022 interview on Marc Maron's "WTF" podcast. He questioned the incongruity of progressiveness while still creating a regressive narrative about seven dwarves residing in a cave. The conversation surrounding Snow White controversy has been further fueled by leaked set photos. Read on for a comprehensive analysis of the situation.

Rachel Zegler’s Casting

Ever since the confirmation of Zegler as the new Snow White in 2021, there has been a chorus of racist trolls who griped about the upcoming movie being deemed as "woke" simply because Zegler is Latina. These complaints mirror the discontent expressed by certain social media users when Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

Halle Bailey. Zabulon Laurent/ABACA/Shutterstock

Zegler, despite facing internet backlash for her casting, expressed her pride in playing the iconic princess from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. In a January 2022 interview with Variety, she revealed her disbelief at the opportunity, noting the rarity of seeing Snow Whites of Latin descent. While Snow White holds significance in Spanish-speaking countries, actresses like Zegler have not traditionally been represented in such roles.

In July 2023, as discussions surrounding her involvement in the movie resurfaced, Zegler requested fans not to inform her of trolls criticizing her casting. She expressed gratitude for those defending her online but asked not to be tagged in the unnecessary debates. Sharing childhood photos of herself dressed as princesses, she hoped to convey the message that every child can aspire to be a princess, regardless of their background.

Bailey, meanwhile, chimed in with a message of support, tweeting: “We love you so much, truly the perfect princess.”

The Dwarves — or Lack Thereof

Dinklage expressed surprise when he commented on the new Snow White film in January 2022, stating that he was "a little taken aback" by its existence. He mentioned that he had no offense towards anyone, but he was still surprised by the decision to cast a Latina actress as Snow White while sticking to the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. During his conversation with Maron, he wondered if he hadn't been influential enough in advancing the cause from his soapbox, admitting, "I guess I'm not loud enough."

Disney has announced that they will be taking a different approach with the depiction of the dwarfs in the new movie. Instead of reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, the filmmakers have consulted with members of the dwarfism community to ensure a more inclusive representation. The company expressed excitement about sharing further details as the film enters production after an extensive development period.

The Initial Set Photos

In July 2023, photographs allegedly depicting Zegler and the new ensemble of "dwarves" surfaced online, prompting swift observations from social media users who pointed out that some of the actors did not appear to have dwarfism. Additionally, certain individuals, bearing racist and sexist sentiments, raised objections to the inclusion of both Black actors and women within the group. Initially, a representative from Disney informed The Daily Beast that "the photos are counterfeit and do not originate from our production." However, the same representative later acknowledged that the images did originate from the authentic set, albeit lacking official recognition. In the meantime, The Daily Mail clarified that Zegler was not among those captured in the photographs.