Rachel Zegler on the ‘Really Confusing’ Snow White Backlash, Online Threats and Refusing to Assimilate

Rachel Zegler spoke candidly about the wave of criticism she faced after being cast as the lead in Disney’s Snow White, calling the backlash “really confusing.” The wide-ranging conversation covered her cultural identity, threats to her safety after posting about Palestine, and the veteran actresses who helped her weather the storm.

Told She Wasn’t Enough — and Then Too Much

Zegler, who has Colombian heritage, told Harper’s Bazaar in March 2026 that the Snow White casting criticism wasn’t the first time her background became a flashpoint. She had previously faced criticism about her background when she starred as Maria in West Side Story, the Steven Spielberg-directed musical.

The backlash pulled in opposite directions across the two projects.

“I was told I wasn’t enough of one thing for ‘West Side Story’ and too much of another for Snow White,” Zegler said.

That contradiction sits at the center of a broader experience Zegler described during the interview. She told Harper’s Bazaar that her cultural identity has always been an important part of her life, and she spoke warmly about the traditions that shaped her upbringing....