Disney ban red carpet interviews with Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot at ‘Snow White’ premieres amid controversies
Disney has scaled back the promotion of Snow White, including preventing Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler from giving red-carpet interviews.
The movie is set for release on March 21st but currently has little fanfare attached. According to Disney, the decision to ignore the traditional route for its premieres was to provide “a more celebratory, family-friendly afternoon event to match the tone and target audience for the film”.
The film recently had its European premiere in a castle that inspired the movie in Segovia, Spain. Zegler attended the event in person, but none of the other cast members made the trip. At the event, she reportedly performed for around 100 people, including influencers and families. There will be no UK premiere, which is peculiar for a movie of this magnitude.
Page Six has alleged that Zegler’s political stances are a reason Disney is reluctant to allow her to speak. The actor is a vocal critic of Donald Trump. She said on X last year that she has “been public with a pro-Palestine stance since 2021” and, in January 2024, also urged the US government to support a ceasefire in Gaza.
Gadot has also faced criticism due to her stance on the conflict in the Middle East. The Israeli actor has spoken in defence of her native country on numerous occasions since October 7th, which has made her become a controversial figure who is regularly attacked on social media.
A source told The Hollywood Reporter of Disney’s position: “They’ve been going through the motions on Snow White, all but saying, ‘We need to get this thing over with’. An advance sales cycle of less than two weeks just screams, ‘We have zero faith in this thing.’ And it couldn’t come at a worse point, when the industry is just trying to limp along to May.”
Both Gadot and Zegler have participated in press coverage, but it’s not been an extensive cycle which is strange for a film of this magnitude. They are also both expected to be in attendance for the upcoming premiere in Los Angeles.
While in production, Snow White received criticism for its use of CGI for the Seven Dwarfs rather than employing actors who have dwarfism. The decision to cast Zegler in the main role was also attacked due to the actor’s Colombian heritage.
Peter Dinklage said in 2022 on Marc Maron’s podcast: “I was a little taken aback by they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White. But you’re still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there, it makes no sense to me.”
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