Disney's $350 Million Nightmare: The Real Reason 'Snow White' Flopped
If you thought the poisoned apple was the most dangerous thing in the Snow White universe, you clearly haven't been paying attention to the nuclear meltdown happening behind the scenes at Disney. The live-action remake has officially cratered at the box office, pulling in a measly $87 million globally against a monstrous $350 million budget. But while critics are tearing the movie apart for being "bland" and "soulless," the real story is the vicious political war between its two leading ladies: Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.
In a twist juicier than any script, the production of the film became a battleground for one of the most polarizing geopolitical conflicts on Earth. On one side, you have Gadot, the "Evil Queen" and proud former IDF soldier who calls herself an "eighth-generation Israeli" (a claim that has historians scratching their heads). On the other, Zegler, the outspoken Gen Z "Snow White" who refused to bow down to corporate pressure and vocally supported Palestine on X (formerly Twitter).
Sources tell us that Disney executives were in a full-blown panic mode as the release date approached. The tension on set was reportedly thicker than the CGI fog used to hide the dwarves. While the studio tried to paint a picture of harmony, the reality was secret meetings, hired "social media gurus," and a desperate attempt to silence their lead actress before she tanked the movie. Spoiler alert: She didn't silence herself, and the movie tanked anyway.
Rachel Zegler refusing to delete her tweets while Gal Gadot gets a pass is the most Disney thing ever. They really tried to censor her.
Gal Gadot: The 'Humanitarian' Who Ignited a Firestorm
Let’s talk about Gal Gadot. In March 2025, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a move that felt strategically timed to boost her "hero" image ahead of the film’s release. In a glowing Variety profile, Gadot positioned herself as a moral crusader, claiming she was "all about humanity" while advocating for Israeli hostages.
But critics were quick to point out the hypocrisy. Gadot’s definition of "humanity" seemed to have a massive blind spot when it came to Palestinians. She blasted the media for "not being fair," ignoring the fact that major outlets like CNN and the New York Times have faced massive internal and external backlash for their alleged pro-Israel bias. The disconnect was palpable.
Gadot’s comments about being "shocked by the amount of hate" were met with eye-rolls from industry insiders who know the score. While she played the victim, citing media bias, reports surfaced that CNN staffers were calling their own network's coverage "journalistic malpractice" for favoring Israel. Gadot was essentially gaslighting the public while promoting a Disney movie, and the backlash was inevitable.
Gal Gadot calling the media 'unfair' while CNN literally caters to her narrative is peak delusion. Read the room, Evil Queen.
The 'Social Media Guru' Scandal: Disney Tries to Muzzle Zegler
While Gadot was getting fluff pieces, Rachel Zegler was getting called into the principal's office. When Zegler posted "Free Palestine" on social media, Disney execs reportedly lost their minds. Variety even ran a hit piece suggesting that Zegler’s tweets caused a spike in death threats against Gadot, painting the young actress as a dangerous instigator rather than a concerned citizen.
The situation got so heated that producer Marc Platt reportedly flew to New York for an emergency intervention. His mission? To convince Zegler to delete the post and submit to a "social media guru" paid for by Disney to vet every single thought she had before hitting send. In Hollywood speak, "vet" means "censor." They wanted to turn her into a corporate robot.
But Zegler didn't blink. She refused to delete the original post, standing her ground against one of the most powerful producers in the industry. This act of defiance reportedly infuriated the suits, who were terrified that her politics would alienate ticket buyers. The irony? They were worried about the wrong thing. Audiences didn't stay away because of tweets; they stayed away because the movie looked terrible.
The Nepo Baby Meltdown: Jonah Platt Attacks Zegler
If the secret meetings weren't enough, the drama spilled out into the open thanks to Marc Platt’s son, Jonah Platt. In a move that proves PR skills aren't hereditary, Jonah took to Instagram to trash Zegler in a now-deleted comment that reeked of entitlement.
He claimed his daddy had to "reprimand his 20-year-old employee" for "dragging her personal politics" into the movie promotion. He called Zegler "narcissistic" and insisted her actions hurt the box office. Calling a lead actress an "employee" who needs a "reprimand" is a level of condescension that had social media users absolutely roasting him.
Jonah’s rant exposed the ugly truth: Hollywood elites view actors as property, not people. They believe that signing a multi-million dollar contract buys your silence. Zegler’s refusal to play along shattered that illusion, and the Platts couldn't handle it.
Jonah Platt calling Rachel Zegler an 'employee' is so embarrassing. Daddy can't save you from being ratioed on the internet, bro.
The Double Standard: Why Was Gal Protected?
The media narrative surrounding this feud highlights a dangerous double standard. Gadot’s support for the IDF and her "eighth-generation Israeli" comments were framed as noble and unproblematic by outlets like Variety. Meanwhile, Zegler’s calls for peace and freedom for Palestinians were framed as disruptive and career-ending.
This isn't an isolated incident. Remember Melissa Barrera? The Scream star was fired by Spyglass for posts they deemed "antisemitic" simply for criticizing the Israeli government. Yet, stars like Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef have supported Palestine without tanking their movies. Poor Things made bank despite their vocal stances. So why was Zegler targeted?
It seems Disney needed a scapegoat. With the movie destined to flop due to bad CGI, a nonsensical plot, and terrible reviews, they needed someone to blame. Zegler became the perfect target. By framing her as "controversial," they could distract from the fact that they made a bad product.
The Box Office Verdict: It Wasn't the Tweets, It Was the Movie
Let’s be crystal clear: Snow White didn't flop because Rachel Zegler tweeted. It flopped because it was a disaster. Critics like Wendy Ide called it a film made by people with "cartoon dollar signs for eyes," while Rolling Stone dubbed it a contender for the "blandest" adaptation ever.
The $87 million opening is a humiliation for Disney. Fans rejected the soulless cash grab, not the politics. But in the boardrooms of Burbank, you can bet they are still trying to pin this on Zegler. The industry whispers suggest that her future with the studio is on thin ice, while Gadot—despite being in the same flop—will likely emerge unscathed.
This saga proves that even in 2025, Hollywood is terrified of genuine political conviction. They want their stars to be blank slates, ready to sell toys and theme park tickets. Rachel Zegler refused to fit that mold, and while the movie failed, her integrity remains intact.
Cliffhanger: Will Zegler Be Blacklisted?
The fallout from this disaster is just beginning. Will Rachel Zegler face the same fate as Melissa Barrera and be quietly blacklisted from future blockbusters? Or will her defiance inspire a new wave of young stars to speak up?
And what about Gal Gadot? Will she continue to land major roles despite starring in back-to-back flops? The battle lines are drawn, and the war for Hollywood’s soul is far from over. One thing is certain: the "happily ever after" for this cast is pure fiction.
