Gadot, currently in Israel enjoying an extended family vacation and having celebrated her birthday over the weekend with program host and close friend Rotem Sela, found herself compelled Sunday to address the tempest her words created, sharing with her hundreds of millions of Instagram followers a story attempting to explain her intended meaning.

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Actor Pedro Pascal faces severe online criticism after publicly expressing support for Rachel Zegler – who remains at the center of public controversy following the commercial failure of Disney's live-action remake of "Snow White."

The new version of "Snow White," directed by Marc Webb and starring Zegler as the princess, struggled at global box offices, earning only $143.1 million against a reported production and marketing budget of $350 million. The film also received a low score of 41% from critics on the movie and series rating site Rotten Tomatoes and an even more embarrassing rating of 1.6/10 on IMDB.

While Pascal and Zegler have never worked together, the star of series "The Last of Us," "Narcos," and "Game of Thrones" and box office hits like "Gladiator 2" has previously praised her Golden Globe-winning performance as Maria in "West Side Story" and even revealed in 2022 that he burst into tears while watching her.

On Sunday, Pascal, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on Wednesday, posted a photo of Zegler on his Instagram stories with the caption "@rachelzegler #icon." The gesture immediately sparked criticism online, with users quickly connecting the contractual relationships of both actors with Disney to what many saw as insensitive support. "Both work for Disney. Both get money from Disney," one user wrote on X, questioning Pascal's motives.

Others accused him of being out of touch with reality, with one commenter writing, "Icon? No. How about fired? How about 'blacklisted'? How about 'failure'?" Additional users even speculated that Pascal's public support could harm his future projects, including his anticipated role in Marvel's "Fantastic Four."

Pascal also faced criticism for the gap between his support for Zegler and his lack of public backing for his "The Mandalorian" co-star, Gina Carano. Carano was fired from the series in 2021 following controversial social media posts in which she compared, among other things, the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany to the persecution of Republicans in the United States today – and is suing Disney and Lucasfilm for wrongful termination and gender discrimination, with the trial expected to begin on September 25. "Where was his support for Gina Carano?" one user wrote, while another commented, "Remember how he threw Gina Carano under the bus?"

Pascal, who like Zegler doesn't hide his pro-Palestinian views, isn't the only celebrity who has expressed support for her, despite the harsh criticism she has faced since being cast. As you may recall, Zegler got into trouble with a series of problematic statements about the film alongside a pro-Palestinian tweet that required increased security around Gal Gadot, and also led to harsh criticism from celebrities, including Jonah Platt, son of film producer Marc Platt, and Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. In contrast, Zegler revealed that she received support from actresses such as Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu, as well as Ariana Grande, in addition to pro-Palestinian actress Melissa Barrera (who was fired from "Scream 7" following her pro-Palestinian posts) and singer Ethel Cain who wrote to her online, "Don't let them break you, legend."

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Sean Lennon, the 49-year-old son of music legend John Lennon and Yoko Ono, has publicly criticized "Snow White" star Rachel Zegler, calling her a "spoiled brat" in a now-deleted tweet amid ongoing controversy surrounding the actress and her comments about the Disney remake.

Lennon regularly shares his opinions on the X platform, and despite having no apparent connection to Zegler or the film, he clearly expressed his views about the young actress after another user defended her. "Both are good actresses, and Zegler doesn't deserve the vilification that hordes of Disney fans constantly throw at her. Such people need to go outside and calm down. I'll leave it at that," the X user wrote.

In response, Lennon replied: "I agree the vilification went too far. But she also acts like a spoiled ungrateful and disconnected brat. So it's no surprise." This tweet, which has since been removed from his account, came as part of a thread where Lennon also discussed the physical appearances of both Zegler and her co-star Gal Gadot.

"Both Gal Gadot AND Rachel Zegler are exceptionally beautiful women. Some of y'all are bugging," he wrote before adding: "Some people are saying 'but beauty is on the inside.' That is not the kind of beauty that gets you modeling or acting or even body building jobs. Some people are genetically gifted in the beauty department and that is a fact of life."

He continued: "There's a lot you can do to help with style and personality but none of that is going to win you a body building competition, for example, if you don't have good genetics. Let's not be babies, physical beauty is not on the inside."

Lennon's criticism adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Golden Globe-winning actress, who has reportedly created problems for Disney executives since being cast in the multimillion-dollar remake.

Zegler previously criticized the original "Snow White" film, describing the prince as a stalker and calling the storyline outdated. She also made several controversial statements online, including a post calling for the liberation of Palestine – after which security around her Israeli co-star Gal Gadot was increased following growing threats to her life.

An investigation published in Variety revealed that the film's producer, Marc Platt, had to fly to New York for a one-on-one meeting with Zegler to convince her to remove the tweet. This effort reportedly failed and subsequently led his son Jonah to criticize the film's star in an Instagram post (since removed), claiming Zegler exhibited narcissistic and childish behavior that negatively impacted the film's revenue.

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Until 2022, when she claimed a coveted Golden Globe for her lead performance in "West Side Story," Zegler remained largely unknown by industry standards. Though blessed with a soprano voice capable of producing an impressive range, she had primarily received recognition in high school productions and hadn't attracted enough attention from influential figures to be provided with an essential guide on navigating "the real playground of Hollywood's elite."

Almost immediately after her casting announcement as Snow White opposite Gal Gadot as the evil queen and stepmother, Zegler (23) – whether deliberately or not – repeatedly demonstrated to Disney executives that she, rather than embodying the snow-white, lovable princess with good looks and a pure heart, was herself the poisoned apple.

The petite Zegler revealed herself as a young, opinionated woman with an unrestricted voice who fired off controversial statements without restraint. Her comments ranged from criticizing power dynamics between men and women in the original animated film to launching political attacks against President Donald Trump and expressing explicit support for Palestinians. Her tense relationships with Gadot and Disney executives left studio heads reeling as they realized the public relations quagmire they'd created with her casting.

Despite the film topping North American box office charts, it failed to generate expected revenue and is almost universally regarded as one of Disney's most embarrassing failures, especially considering its budget of hundreds of millions. The primary blame falls on Zegler, as evidenced by an investigation from Variety revealing that following her pro-Palestinian tweet, Disney was forced to increase security around Gadot after threats emerged against her life. Additionally, Jonah Platt, son of film producer Marc Platt, published a scathing post accusing Zegler of injecting her personal political agenda into the film's promotion campaign in ways that clearly damaged its financial performance, describing her behavior as "immature desires" and narcissism.

Zegler became persona non grata and a massive headache for Disney executives, who attempted damage control at every turn – no simple task considering Zegler's position as one of the film's two leads. She refused to back down from her positions, even after reports emerged that Marc Platt had been dispatched to New York to demand she remove her pro-Palestinian tweet during a private meeting – an effort that resulted in embarrassing failure.

Studio executives realized they had no choice but to minimize the platforms where Zegler could express her volatile opinions. They initiated an extensive damage control campaign: interactions between Gadot and Zegler were reduced to absolute minimum requirements, which included a joint Oscar presentation and official premiere attendance. However, these appearances were limited to "in-house" coverage only and lacked the customary celebratory atmosphere associated with releases of this magnitude. Meanwhile, her public and media appearances were meticulously curated.

Wherever Disney could exercise control over Zegler, they did – including sending her to walk red carpets alone at scaled-down premieres in Spain and Japan. Regarding promotional interviews, which typically occur in abundance, Zegler's presence (compared to Gadot's) was significantly diminished, with reports of canceled appearances on "Saturday Night Live," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "The Drew Barrymore Show."

Has Zegler's career reached its conclusion?

The answer is almost certainly no, at least according to current industry indicators. One must remember that Hollywood is notoriously fickle with a short memory – for better or worse. It's premature to eulogize Zegler's career or conclude she has self-sabotaged her professional trajectory. True, one cannot ignore the real and substantial public and professional backlash she faces, which will likely influence potential collaborators in coming years. However, stepping back reveals a more complex reality in Hollywood's ecosystem.

Will Zegler, who positioned herself as Generation Z's progressive voice and torch-bearer for "WOKE culture," face a fate similar to colleagues like Melissa Barrera, fired from "Scream 7" after expressing support for Palestinians? Or perhaps follow Susan Sarandon, who despite an acclaimed career and Oscar win, found herself effectively blacklisted following her vocal Palestinian support? It remains unclear whether Zegler's situation represents a career-ending moment or merely a temporary setback.

Currently, the primary impact appears limited to her relationship with Disney. The studio will likely maintain tight control until their contractual agreements expire – arrangements unlikely to be renewed in the near future. Beyond this relationship, however, the consequences seem contained. While Zegler withdrew from filming "Paddington in Peru" in October 2023 shortly after the "Iron Swords" war began, media reports attributed this departure to the actors' union strike and her inability to break it as a union member – unrelated to the conflict or her public statements.

Regarding social media, Zegler continues maintaining active accounts and posting content freely, including post-release statements praising colleagues for the wonderful experience working on "Snow White" – conspicuously "forgetting" to mention Gadot while erasing any trace of her presence.

and always remember, free palestine.

— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) August 12, 2024

Her stage performances continue uninterrupted. In October 2024, a full year after fighting broke out and long after she had expressed her controversial opinions, she starred on Broadway in "Romeo and Juliet." Her co-star Kit Connor ("Heartstopper") even wore the controversial red Artists4ceasefire pin on his tuxedo lapel during the celebratory premiere. Additionally, Zegler will soon make her West End debut in London as the lead in a new production of "Evita" scheduled to run between June and September.

For those who anticipated Zegler's career demise, disappointment awaits. Since "Snow White" hit theaters, she has continued advancing professionally: recently, her cover version of "Who I'd Be" from the "Shrek" musical appeared on MCC Theatre's album (which ironically also features Ben Platt, son of "Snow White" producer Marc Platt and brother to Jonah Platt, who publicly criticized Zegler).

On March 28, Zegler debuted on CBeebies Bedtime Story – a beloved children's program on BBC's CBeebies channel where celebrities read bedtime stories – presenting "Never Mess with a Pirate Princess" by Holly Ryan. The story concludes with a line many interpret as summarizing Zegler's essence while delivering a perfectly timed jab at her critics: "Never mess with a princess. We can all be powerful princesses. You don't need a king or queen as parents, or a beautiful white horse or even a fancy castle to live in. To be a powerful princess,  you just need to be wonderful, brilliant."

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The controversy surrounding "Snow White" continues: Jonah Platt, actor, podcaster and son of "Snow White" producer Marc Platt, attacked actress Rachel Zegler for "stealing" attention from Disney's live-action adaptation promotional campaign for the iconic film, claiming her inflammatory political posts on social media and problematic behavior clearly impacted box office earnings.

The comments, written in response to an Instagram user and since deleted, came following a report by cultural outlet Variety on Tuesday, which exposed the drama behind the scenes in the days leading up to the release of Disney's live-action adaptation of "Snow White." Among other revelations, it was disclosed that the studios paid for additional security for Gal Gadot after she received death threats following Zegler's pro-Palestinian tweet.

Additionally, it was revealed that Disney hired a social media expert to monitor Zegler's content and sent producer Marc Platt to New York to meet with the actress and discuss her political statements – in addition to adjustments they were forced to make in promoting the film due to tensions between Zegler and Gadot. The main adjustment they had to make was minimizing interaction between them as much as possible, even at the film's official premiere.

An Instagram user who apparently supports Zegler wrote to the producer's son: "Your dad flew to NYC to reprimand a young actress? Any words on this? Cuz that's creepy as hell and uncalled for. People have the right to free speech no? Shame on your father."

The comment angered Jonah, who chose to defend his father while sharply condemning Zegler's behavior, which he said jeopardized the success of a film in which hundreds of millions of dollars were invested. "You really want to do this?" he wrote angrily in response.

"Yeah, my dad, the producer of the enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20-year-old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicly for," he wrote.

"Free speech does not mean you're allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions. Tens of thousands of people worked on that film and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of the colleagues and crew and blue collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged," he concluded.

Jonah's comments, host of the podcast "Being Jewish," received mixed reactions online. While some users expressed support for his claims and argued that actors should be careful with their public statements, quite a few came out against his criticism, claiming that blaming the film's failure solely on Zegler is a hypocritical and ridiculous move.

"Blaming the entire failure of 'Snow White' on Zegler's politics and not at all on his father's and Disney's politics is ridiculous," one user tweeted. "She didn't make all the diversity, change, and inclusion changes in the film. She was chosen by Disney and by his father," added another user. "He seriously doesn't see the problems in the film itself, just her comments? Progressives are so distorted they have no idea how destructive they are, they never take responsibility," others added.

Despite the film opening at number one, it has struggled to recoup its investment and mostly receives negative reviews and low scores on leading movie rating sites. As of today, its earnings stand at just $87 million worldwide compared to a budget of $270 million, with many critics pointing to several factors for the failure, including the film's "progressive" approach, the use of computer-animated dwarfs instead of casting real actors, and of course the tension between its two leading stars.

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Death threats against Israeli actress Gal Gadot escalated after her "Snow White" co-star Rachel Zegler posted a pro-Palestine message alongside film promotion in August 2024, Variety reported, forcing Disney to increase security for Gadot while attempting to address Zegler's controversial social media activity ahead of the film's release, which ultimately disappointed at the box office with just $87 million worldwide.

In August 2024, Zegler combined the promotion of the film's trailer with the political statement "and always remember, free Palestine." The post, which garnered 8.8 million views, led to death threats against Israeli actress Gal Gadot, requiring Disney to provide additional security for the mother of four.

"She didn't understand the repercussions of her actions as far as what that meant for the film, for Gal, for anyone," an insider told Variety about Zegler's social media activity. The situation escalated in November when Zegler posted anti-Trump messages following the presidential election, which concerned Disney executives who worried about alienating potential audiences.

Producer Marc Platt traveled to New York to speak directly with Zegler about her social media presence. These conversations eventually led to Disney hiring a social media consultant to review her posts before the film's March 21 release – a rare step for a studio to take with a lead actor.

The film's $43 million domestic opening fell below industry expectations of $45-55 million. "You can't say that a live-action remake of the most iconic film in the vault that cost $270 million and has been reshot multiple times opening to $50 million is OK. The math does not work. That movie should be a billion-dollar movie," a rival studio executive told Variety.

Zegler's public relations challenges with Disney began during the 2022 awards season when she complained on social media about not being invited to the Oscars for "West Side Story," a Disney-distributed film. Sean Bailey, then-president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, had declined to release her from "Snow White" production in London, but after her public complaints, the Academy provided her with a ticket.

The actress later criticized the original 1937 "Snow White" at a D23 event, stating that the prince "literally stalks" the heroine. One top agent suggested that Disney should have addressed these comments immediately: "The first time she shoots her mouth off, you nip it in the bud." Box office analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations said, "They say all press is good press, but in 'Snow White's' case, they were unabashedly wrong. Too much negative controversy surrounded this film for years, and it didn't help that the reviews were subpar."

Despite reports suggesting tension between the film's stars, sources told Variety that Zegler and Gadot maintained a good relationship during production, with awkwardness only emerging closer to the release. However, the studio's decision to schedule separate junket events for the actresses and keep them mostly apart at the March 15 premiere – where Zegler sat two rows ahead of Gadot and her family – fueled the perception of a rift.

The film faced additional challenges, including COVID-related production delays, a set fire, and the actors' strike disrupting reshoots. These issues came as Disney's once-reliable live-action remakes have shown weakness at the box office, with "Dumbo" and "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" underperforming and "Peter Pan & Wendy" redirected to Disney+.

Given the years of controversy surrounding the production, Disney had reportedly given up hope that the film could overcome its challenges by the time it reached theaters.

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The New York Times reported Monday on a "sleepy box office start" for Disney's polarizing remake of "Snow White", opening with disappointing ticket sales of $43 million in the US and Canada. This represents a weak performance compared to previous Disney live-action remakes, marking one of the company's most troubled film launches in recent history.

The film, plagued by production issues and controversy, still managed to secure the number one position at domestic theaters this weekend. Despite topping the charts, the $43 million opening falls significantly short of analyst projections and previous Disney remakes, none of which opened to less than $58 million after adjusting for inflation.

The New York Times reported that "Snow White" collected an additional $44 million in international markets, bringing its global debut to approximately $87 million. With production and marketing costs estimated at around $350 million, the film faces an uphill battle to profitability. The film played in 4,200 theaters nationwide and gave the struggling exhibition industry its second-biggest opening of 2024, behind only Disney's "Captain America: Brave New World," which debuted with $89 million earlier this year.

Critical reception for "Snow White" showed a significant divide between reviewers and audiences. Only 43% of critics gave the film positive reviews according to Rotten Tomatoes, while general audiences rated it much more favorably with a 74% positive score.

The remake faced numerous challenges during its production, which began in 2021. Delays stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 actors' strike, and extensive reshoots that drove up costs. The studio also faced criticism from individuals diagnosed with dwarfism regarding creative decisions about the seven dwarf characters, which were made using computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Star Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, became a focal point for criticism among some internet users and right-wing media outlets who questioned the casting of a Latina actress as Snow White. These critics characterized the decision as an example of Hollywood's diversity initiatives gone too far.

However, industry analysts cited by The New York Times rejected this interpretation, suggesting that "Snow White" struggled primarily because the underlying intellectual property appears outdated to modern audiences. Disney has already adapted most of its popular animated classics into live-action films and has now moved to less commercially viable properties from its library.

Analysts also noted a general audience fatigue with live-action remakes of animated films, pointing to declining box office returns across the category. Disney has recognized this trend and shelved plans for several other remakes including "Bambi," "The Sword in the Stone," and "Hercules," though a live-action version of "Tangled" remains in development.

The film has also drawn attention for reported tensions between its lead actresses. Israeli actress Gal Gadot plays the evil queen alongside Zegler, who has been vocal about her pro-Palestinian views. This dynamic reportedly caused backlash from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian audiences, further complicating the film's already controversial reception.

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The highly anticipated live-action film "Snow White" starring Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler premiered in Los Angeles on Saturday – with the only notable thing missing being press photographers.

Disney chose to hold a premiere mostly without press due to the tense situation between the two stars Zegler, who plays Snow White, and Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen. Despite all the reported tension between the two, both actresses nevertheless appeared to be in high spirits, talked with each other, and posed together on the red carpet outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.

Zegler has repeatedly made pro-Palestinian statements, while Gadot has expressed her support for Israel since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War following October 7, 2023. Last August, just days after the official trailer for the film was released, Zegler wrote on her X account, "Thank you for the love and for 120 million views on our trailer in just 24 hours! That's crazy. And always remember: Free Palestine." Zegler's post drew angry responses, claiming it was an insensitive statement toward her colleague Gal Gadot. On the other hand, there were those who expressed support for Zegler and spoke out against Israel and the casting of Gadot in the film.

Recently, a source told PEOPLE that there is tension between Zegler and Gadot, saying that the two "have nothing in common. Their political views are different, which adds to the tension." These many tensions, as well as negative forecasts that the film is expected to fail at the box office, have accompanied Disney's remake even before it hits theaters next week on March 21.

Another source claimed that "Gal is troubled by the drama surrounding the film. She enjoyed the filming. She got along with Rachel but they're not friends. They have nothing in common. They did a job together and that's it."

Zegler also previously criticized the original film as "sexist" and "very outdated when it comes to ideas about women in positions of power," and said that Snow White's prince "really stalks her."

Zegler and Gadot have appeared together at many events to promote their long-delayed film, including at Disney's D23 Expo in 2022 and at the most recent Academy Awards, where they took the stage together to present the Best Visual Effects category. However, Gadot did not participate in the European premiere of "Snow White" in Spain on March 12.

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Rachel Zegler, 23, one of Hollywood's most promising rising stars, received a stark lesson this week about the pressures of life in the celebrity spotlight.

The actress, currently gracing Broadway stages and soon to appear as Disney's new Snow White, encountered fierce criticism across social media platforms after posting a series of inflammatory statements about Donald Trump and his supporters.

Through her Instagram stories, Zegler vented her frustration about the US election results, including posts stating "F**k you, Donald Trump" and declaring  "May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace."

The response was immediate and severe, with Trump supporters labeling her as "unstable" and warning about potential damage to her career prospects.

Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly called out Disney for its silence on the matter. "If a Broadway performer had made similar comments about Biden or Harris, their employment would have been terminated immediately," Kelly stated.

Taking to Instagram stories again, Zegler attempted to defuse the situation with an apology: "I am sorry I contributed to the negative discourse. I firmly believe that everyone has the right to their opinion, even when it differs from my own." She explained that emotions had overwhelmed her during what she described as a week that "has been emotional for so many of us."

This isn't Zegler's first encounter with political controversy. While promoting "Snow White" last summer, she concluded a social media post with "Free Palestine" – a statement many viewed as a pointed reference to her co-star Gal Gadot, who portrays her stepmother in the film.

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"A character that tries to kill a child and steal her kingdom. How fitting." Those are the words used to describe Israeli-Jewish actress Gal Gadot.

The live-action remake of Disney's Snow White is set to hit theatres in March 2025. While many are excited to see their childhood film brought to life, a group of pro-Hamas activists is calling for a boycott because the film features Israeli actress Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.

Gal Gadot is no stranger to calls for boycotts against her films, but since October 7, we've witnessed a surge of antisemitic campaigns targeting Israelis and Jews under the pretense of "social justice" and "anti-war" efforts.

Israeli Eurovision representative Eden Golan was forced to hire security measures typically reserved for world leaders. She had to wear a disguise on the rare occasions she left her hotel. Israel dispatched internal security representatives to Paris ahead of the Olympics, as Israeli athletes were harassed, targeted, and even sent invitations to their own funerals, necessitating 24-hour protection. Just a few months ago, Marvel reportedly erased the Israeli heritage of Sabra, a Jewish Mossad superhero, and reimagined her as a Russian spy.

All of this is done in the name of "humanitarians" who claim to be "anti-war." But there's nothing anti-war about it—it's pure antisemitism. Israeli actors, musicians, and athletes are being targeted solely because of their race and identity, not because they have any influence over Israel's policies in Gaza. Those who target Gal Gadot conveniently ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas and their Palestinian collaborators, using "social justice" as a shield to justify their racism.

Calls to boycott Snow White are spreading across social media, with statements like: "They've cast Israeli terrorist Gal Gadot in the film. She's a trained killer who served in the Israeli degenerate forces. Don't let Zionist terrorists normalize this EVER."

It makes no difference that targeting and dehumanizing Gal Gadot will do nothing to liberate Palestinians. It makes no difference that she has no control over Israeli policy or military actions in Gaza. It makes no difference that she has actively called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. To fanatical so-called progressives, Gadot is the enemy simply because she is a Jewish Israeli.

Normalizing this kind of antisemitism in the arts and entertainment industry is dangerous. When combined with the trope that "Jews control Hollywood," the hatred directed at Israeli artists appears more insidious, masquerading as "anti-racism." This industry is known for pushing boundaries, making those in art-centric spaces more susceptible to radical and racist ideologies when presented under the guise of "anti-war" sentiments.

We must never accept a standard where Jews and Israelis require additional security or are denied opportunities simply because of their race or origin. Jewish people should never have to renounce their Zionism or support for Israel to gain acceptance, as Zionism is deeply rooted in the identities of the vast majority of us.

We are witnessing a troubling trend post-October 7, where it has become more acceptable to dehumanize Israelis in arts and entertainment, allowing racists and bigots to spread their hatred under the banner of social justice. This trend not only endangers the safety of Jews worldwide but also undermines the very essence of an industry that prides itself on diversity and inclusion.

If we allow this to continue unchecked, we risk creating an environment where hate becomes normalized, and individuals are judged not by their talents or contributions but by their nationality or religious background. The arts should be a sanctuary for creativity, expression, and unity - not a battleground for bigotry.

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