Disney banned the press from attending the March 15 Hollywood premiere of “Snow White” after facing backlash over the film.
Coverage of the event is restricted to photographers and a house crew — a dramatic difference from the traditionally robust media pit, according to Variety. The decision comes after people criticized the casting of Latina actor Rachel Zegler as Snow White. World politics affected the film when Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, spoke out in support of Israel amid the Hamas war and Zegler posted a pro-Palestine message on social media before issuing harsh comments against Donald Trump. The film was further marred when actors without dwarfism were hired to play the seven dwarfs in the film.
The scaled-back festivities at the film’s premiere have been reduced to a limited pre-party and a screening at the El Capitan Theatre, according to Variety. The red carpet will shut out the media outlets that typically interview the cast and production crew ahead of the movie’s reveal.
The Marc Webb-directed film is still reeling from scrutiny from all angles. Among the widespread criticism were those who felt Zegler’s summary of the film strayed too far from the Disney classic. Speaking of her character during an interview with Variety in 2023, Zegler said, “She’s not going to be saved by the prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”
She went on to call the original film “dated” because the prince “literally stalks Snow White.”
Zegler was also under fire for outwardly supporting Palestine and lashing out at Trump supporters when Donald Trump was reelected.
“May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace,” she wrote on Instagram. She subsequently apologized for her statement.
Zegler also posted “and always remember, free Palestine” on X in August 2024.
Gadot delivered a speech March 4 at Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit in New York City that created more waves.
“Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews,” she said.
“Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage took issue with the movie’s portrayal of little people.
“Literally no offense to anything, but I was sort of taken aback,” he said in January 2024 on the “WTF With Mark Maron” podcast. (RELATED: Wee Man Criticizes Snow White Movie, Says Little People’s Jobs Are Being Taken)
“They were very proud to cast a Latino 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,” he said.
Shortly after the podcast, Disney issued a statement to Good Morning America. “To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film,” they were “consulting with members of the dwarfism community,” the company said in part.
