Surely a Musk-developed AI tool wouldn't have negative things to say!!
That is an excellent observation. So I asked Sam Altman’s ChatGPT 4.5 to do a deep dive on same question…. This is very long and detailed…
Rachel Zegler’s Snow White Comments: Backlash and Box Office Impact (as of March 20, 2025)
Rachel Zegler, who portrays Snow White in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake. Her remarks about modernizing the story have sparked heated debate online.
Controversial Comments Spark Backlash
Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old star of Disney’s Snow White remake, made headlines with comments about how the 2025 film updates the 1937 classic. In a 2022 interview at D23 Expo, Zegler noted “it’s no longer 1937,” explaining that her Snow White “won’t be saved by the prince, and she won’t be dreaming about true love” but instead “finds her own voice” and aspires to be a leader . She even jokingly described the original’s prince as “a guy who literally stalks her… weird, weird – so we aren’t going to do that” . While Disney intended these story changes to modernize the fairy tale, the remarks reignited controversy when clips resurfaced on social media in mid-2023 . Many fans of the classic perceived Zegler’s tone as dismissive of Walt Disney’s original film, prompting a wave of online backlash. The actress later acknowledged the public outcry and has appeared more cautious in recent interviews, saying she’s “extremely appreciative” of supporters but doesn’t want to be tagged in “nonsensical discourse” about her casting .
Social Media and Fan Sentiment
Zegler’s comments quickly went viral on platforms like TikTok and X/Twitter, fueling intense debate among Disney fans and culture commentators. Sentiment on message boards and social media skewed negative: some users labeled her attitude “smug,” “pseudo-feminist,” and “problematic,” accusing her of disrespecting a beloved classic . Prominent conservative voices and anti-“woke” commentators seized on her quotes – critics derided the remake as “Snow Woke” and made sarcastic jokes about its modern spin. For example, one commentator quipped that “instead of a kiss from Prince Charming, Snow White will be woken up by a WhatsApp message from her boss at the corporate job that she hates” . Another joked, “Instead of falling in love with her Prince, Snow White freezes her eggs,” mocking the film’s career-woman angle . Such barbs, amplified by high-profile Twitter accounts, suggest that a segment of the online community sees the film as overly modernized or agenda-driven. The backlash even led to unfounded rumors (later debunked) that Disney might fire Zegler or alter the film, underscoring how heated the fan discourse became.
Not all the commentary has been negative. Some fans and commentators defended Zegler and the film’s updated approach, pointing out that fairytales are often reimagined for new generations . Diversity advocates noted the irony of demands for “historical accuracy” in a fantasy; they argue that a Latina Snow White and a more empowered princess reflect today’s audiences . When Zegler shared a childhood photo of herself dressed as Snow White amid the furor, many supporters rallied, saying it’s meaningful for young Latina girls to see themselves as a Disney princess . Still, the loudest voices have tended to be critics of Zegler’s comments. Online sentiment analysis suggests the controversy became a flashpoint in the broader “culture war.” Threads on Reddit and movie forums debated whether her “no prince” stance was feminist progress or needless provocation, and hashtags like #BoycottSnowWhite trended alongside derisive nicknames. This highly polarized chatter has undeniably influenced public perception of the film before its release. As one entertainment newsletter put it, Snow White landed “in the culture war crosshairs,” collecting more “scandals [and] brouhahas” than some studios see in a decade .
Industry and Critical Reactions
Within the film industry, reactions to the Snow White drama have been mixed. Many film critics and insiders downplay the online outrage, noting that pre-release “noise” doesn’t always translate to audience behavior. Stephen Galloway, dean of Chapman University’s film school, argued that internet controversies are fleeting and “the darkness of the web… doesn’t kill a movie” if the film itself delivers . His view is that ultimately “everything is dependent on, was this movie any good?” . Early signs suggest the film might indeed win over skeptics: Disney held the Los Angeles premiere earlier this week, and initial reactions were surprisingly positive. Audience members at the premiere enthusiastically applauded musical numbers, and some early viewers are calling it Disney’s best live-action remake in years . One online critic even raved that the remake “recaptures the magic of the 1937 movie” and praised Zegler’s portrayal, saying “Rachel Zegler IS Snow White” . Likewise, an early roundup noted Snow White is “being showered with praise” as the finest Disney remake in a long time, with particular kudos to Zegler’s performance . This positive buzz from critics stands in stark contrast to the internet backlash, hinting that the film itself may be more charming than the discourse surrounding it.
That said, Disney has been careful in its publicity strategy given the charged atmosphere. The studio notably restricted press access at the premiere, opting not to allow the typical red-carpet interviews . Some analysts saw this as Disney trying to avoid giving the controversy more oxygen, though it also meant losing a chance to change the narrative. BoxOffice Pro observed that by limiting press at the event, Disney risked “turning the PR headaches around the film into the story instead of the film itself,” similar to how off-screen drama overshadowed 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling . Industry observers like Richard Rushfield (of The Ankler) have framed Snow White as an unfortunate “case study” in volatile public sentiment, noting how external issues – from political social media posts to culture-war debates – latched onto the movie . Even Disney’s CEO was forced to field questions about whether the company’s “woke” direction is alienating audiences . In short, Hollywood insiders are well aware of the Snow White saga, but many believe solid filmmaking (and Disney’s brand power) can overcome the Twitter storms.
Box Office Tracking and Projections
All the controversy has made Snow White’s commercial prospects a subject of intense speculation. Early box office tracking initially looked optimistic – in February, some long-range forecasts projected the film could debut around $65–70 million in its opening weekend . This would be a decent, if not spectacular, start for a Disney princess remake. However, as the release drew closer, industry tracking softened noticeably. By early March, reports from sources like The Hollywood Reporter indicated Snow White was targeting a more modest ~$53 million opening, with an expected range of about $48–58 million domestically . Now, in the week of release, the consensus has narrowed further: analysts predict a debut in the $45–55 million range in North America . Shawn Robbins of Box Office Theory pegs it on the lower end, around “high $30 million to low $40 million” for the first weekend , though others are slightly more bullish. Notably, this is far below the $90M+ opening hauls of hits like Aladdin (2019) or The Little Mermaid (2023) . If Snow White opens near $50M, it would place among the weaker Disney live-action starts – “lower-rung” compared to past entries, close to 2019’s underperforming Dumbo ($46M opening) and well behind Cinderella (2015) or Jungle Book (2016) .
What’s behind the downgraded projections? Industry watchers point to a combination of lukewarm marketing buzz and the drag of the online backlash. Boxoffice Pro’s forecasting panel notes that pre-sale ticket demand has been underwhelming, saying Snow White’s tracking “has been down since pre-sales began” last week . The negative PR – from incessant social media chatter about “wokeness” to political controversies involving the cast – likely dampened some enthusiasm. One financial analyst bluntly stated that Disney “misplayed its hand” by letting the narrative be about off-screen issues rather than the movie’s merits . Indeed, pollsters find that frequent moviegoers are well aware of the Snow White controversies, which may have tempered interest among certain demographics. There is even talk of small-scale boycotts: for instance, a subset of fans aligned with conservative groups has vowed to skip the film, upset over Zegler’s anti-Trump social media posts and the perceived “revisionist” take on the tale . On the flip side, Disney’s marketing team is now mounting a final push, confident that Snow White has an open runway as one of the few family films in theaters this month . The studio believes awareness is high among the target audience and is reminding observers that Disney movies often have strong legs beyond opening weekend . In fact, some rivals note that last year’s Mufasa: The Lion King prequel opened to just $35M but legged out to over $700M worldwide, cautioning against underestimating Disney’s drawing power . Snow White carries a hefty budget (reportedly $200M+), so long-term momentum will be crucial, but the current projections reflect a tempered outlook that many attribute, at least in part, to the mixed public perception.
Audience Response and Demographic Shifts
Despite the noisy online backlash, tracking data suggests Snow White still has strong interest among its core audience – families and young female viewers. According to insiders, awareness is especially high among “younger and teenage girls as well as women in general,” which Disney sees as the key demo for this princess film . This mirrors what happened with The Little Mermaid last year: intense online trolling did not stop mothers and daughters from turning out in droves on opening weekend. Many industry observers believe the same “disconnect” could occur here – i.e. the average family with kids, who is not “terminally online,” may have little awareness of (or interest in) the Twitter controversies . As one box office analyst put it, Disney live-action films are no strangers to online culture-war flareups, but that’s “rarely been a determining factor financially” . In other words, social media outrage may loom large on YouTube and Reddit, but a six-year-old begging their parents to see Snow White likely isn’t influenced by TikTok debates. Indeed, Disney is counting on the brand’s multigenerational appeal – the nostalgia of parents combined with the novelty for kids – to overcome any bad buzz .
That said, there are signs of a demographic shift in who is most excited (or turned off) by this film. Reports indicate Snow White is tracking weaker among adult males, a group perhaps more swayed by YouTube pundits decrying the film’s “girl boss” angle. Some older fans who grew up with the 1937 classic also voice reluctance, feeling protective of the original’s legacy. Additionally, politically conservative moviegoers have, in recent years, grown skeptical of Disney; some view the company as pushing values they don’t agree with, and Zegler’s personal tweets (such as a post-election remark wishing “Trump supporters…never know peace”) only exacerbated that sentiment . Media analysts observe that a portion of the conservative audience has “turned off to the [Disney] brand” in protest . This could mean slightly fewer ticket buyers from that segment, especially in regions where the “anti-woke” rhetoric resonates strongly. On the other hand, the inclusive casting of a Latina lead may draw new viewers and families who welcome the diversity. Similar to how Halle Bailey’s casting as Ariel inspired young Black girls, Zegler becoming Disney’s first Latina princess has generated excitement in Latino communities (she herself said, “I get to be a Latina princess” ). The net effect might be a more polarized audience: those enthusiastically supporting the film are different from those loudly criticizing it. Disney appears to be tailoring marketing toward the former – emphasizing empowerment and spectacle in ads to appeal to girls and parents, and staying out of the weeds of the internet arguments. The big question is whether the overall audience turnout will be significantly diminished by the backlash, or if it simply shifts the composition of who shows up opening night. Early tracking and survey data imply that plenty of families still plan to attend, but the film may lean more heavily on its target demo (young females and kids) rather than courting all four quadrants equally.
Comparisons with Other Disney Live-Action Adaptations
To put Snow White’s situation in context, it helps to compare it with recent Disney live-action remakes – many of which faced their own pre-release controversies or challenges:
• The Little Mermaid (2023) – Like Snow White, this remake encountered racist backlash online when a Black actress (Halle Bailey) was cast as Ariel. Trolls bombarded trailers with dislikes and spawned memes, but ultimately the negativity had limited impact on opening weekend. The Little Mermaid debuted to $95.5 million domestically (3-day) – roughly on par with projections – and finished with a solid $298M in North America. The film did weaker overseas (ending around $570M globally) but industry experts attributed that more to franchise fatigue and other factors than to the online hate. In fact, the remake benefited from positive word-of-mouth among its target audience, and videos of young Black girls joyfully reacting to Ariel went viral in a positive way . This suggests that a loud online backlash doesn’t necessarily translate into box office doom if the core audience is enthusiastic.
• Beauty and the Beast (2017) – This blockbuster remake had minimal controversy beyond a brief kerfuffle over a minor gay subplot (which prompted a few countries to consider bans). Any backlash was fleeting, and the film rode a wave of goodwill and nostalgia to a massive $174.7M opening and over $1.35 billion worldwide gross . Beauty and the Beast demonstrates that when a remake is marketed well and embraced by fans, it can smash records despite small pockets of dissent. In Snow White’s case, however, it’s clear the pre-release “goodwill” is not as strong – Disney’s subdued marketing and the need to address controversies have kept enthusiasm in check . So, expecting BATB-level numbers was never realistic, but the comparison shows how powerful a unified fanbase can be for these films.
• Mulan (2020) – This remake is a cautionary tale of how off-screen issues can hurt a film’s reception. Mulan’s lead actress ignited a political firestorm by voicing support for Hong Kong’s police during pro-democracy protests, sparking the #BoycottMulan campaign . The film also drew criticism for filming in China’s Xinjiang region amid human rights concerns. The result was a cold reception in many markets – for example, Hong Kong activists successfully discouraged audiences, and Mulan sold barely one-third of tickets in some Hong Kong theaters at opening . Combined with the pandemic (which forced Mulan to skip U.S. theaters for Disney+), the controversy ensured Mulan never gained box office traction. Disney executives later admitted the pileup of controversies was a “lot of issues” to overcome. For Snow White, the situation isn’t as dire – its debates, while heated, haven’t triggered international boycotts on the scale of Mulan. But Mulan’s experience shows how public sentiment can indeed dent a film’s performance, especially if that sentiment turns a large potential audience away.
Other Disney remakes underscore that outcomes vary. Tim Burton’s Dumbo (2019) had little controversy yet floundered with a $45M opening – proof that lack of fan interest or mediocre reviews can be as damaging as any “backlash.” On the flip side, Aladdin (2019) overcame initial skepticism (remember the lukewarm response to Will Smith’s blue Genie in the first trailer?) to gross $1 billion globally through strong family appeal and nostalgia. In summary, there is no consistent trend – some remakes weather pre-release storms and soar, while others struggle due to a mix of factors. Disney’s live-action track record is a mixed bag, and Snow White is poised to land somewhere in that spectrum . Given its iconic source material, it was once expected to be a top-tier performer, but the current projections place it more in the middle of the pack.
Conclusion
As of March 20, 2025, Rachel Zegler’s outspoken comments and the ensuing backlash have clearly influenced public perception of Snow White, creating a tale of two narratives. Online, the film has been mired in controversies – labeled “Snow Woke” by detractors and entangled in debates over “modernizing” a classic – which led Disney to bridle its PR and analysts to dial back box office expectations . Yet, the enduring strength of Disney’s brand and the broad appeal of the princess fantasy mean Snow White is far from a doomed prospect. Industry experts maintain that a large segment of the audience will still show up for the nostalgia, music, and spectacle despite the noise . The projected opening in the ~$50M range, while modest next to previous live-action blockbusters, suggests a respectable turnout even if some potential viewers were turned off. Looking ahead, the film’s legs will depend on whether general audiences embrace this reimagining. If reviews and word-of-mouth stay positive (as early reactions indicate), Snow White could steady itself and attract families throughout the spring. Disney appears to be “managing expectations” – acknowledging it likely won’t replicate the runaway success of Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King, but also confident it can avoid the fate of a true flop . In the end, Rachel Zegler’s comments have made Snow White a lightning rod, shaping its narrative before a single ticket was sold. This has tempered the film’s box office ceiling and shifted its audience mix, but it has also sparked conversations about evolving Disney princess values. The real test begins as the film opens: Disney will soon learn if the fairest one of all can overcome the social media poison apple and win over the hearts of moviegoers in 2025.
Sources: The analysis above is supported by reporting from ABC News Australia , Reuters , Fox News , Boxoffice Pro , The Hollywood Reporter via Toonado , The Scotsman (Edinburgh News) , and other industry and social media sources as cited throughout.
deadline.com
