Rachel Zegler is opening up again about the backlash tied to Snow White, and she makes clear the fallout went far beyond movie criticism.
In a new interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Zegler said the reaction to her casting and everything that followed was especially hard because much of it was driven by racism and attacks over her identity.
“I was told I wasn’t enough of one thing for West Side Story and too much of another for Snow White,” she said.
Zegler explained how confusing it was to hear those kinds of comments in her early twenties, especially as someone who has always been proud of her Colombian background. She said she refuses to change who she is just to make other people comfortable.
Rachel Zegler Addresses Identity And Public Pressure
Zegler said there is a strange double standard that can happen when someone comes from more than one background, where in the public eye, they can end up being treated like they belong nowhere.
She said her family’s experience also shaped how she sees it, pointing to how previous generations often felt pressure to assimilate in order to survive and build a future in America.
While she didn’t want to get pulled into a larger political argument, Zegler admitted the current state of the country is difficult for her to watch.
She Stands By Her Beliefs
Zegler also talked about the bigger Snow White controversy, including the backlash over her comments about the original animated film and her public support for Palestinian human rights.
She has not backed away from what she said.
“I’ve said what I feel, and that will always be a testament to my core beliefs as a human,” Zegler said. “That’s where I stand.”
At the same time, she acknowledged the experience taught her a lot about how fast things can spiral online and how intent does not always match impact.
Rachel Zegler Says The Backlash Led To Safety Threats
Looking back, Zegler said she never could have predicted how severe the response would become.
“If I’d been able to predict everything that would come my way, the threats to my safety, I would have just thrown my phone into the ocean,” she said.
One of the biggest takeaways from the interview is that Zegler isn’t only talking about online criticism. She says the controversy escalated to the point where her personal safety became a concern.
Support From Helen Mirren And Lucy Liu
Zegler also revealed she got support from her Shazam! Fury of the Gods co-stars Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu during the difficult period.
She said the two took her out in Atlanta, cheered her up, and spoke with her about the realities of being a woman in Hollywood.
Zegler added that the experience pushed her to support younger actresses coming up behind her, especially women of color facing similar pressure.
