Disney’s last minute scramble to avoid growing Snow White controversy

Disney is desperately scrambling to try and avoid the growing controversy surrounding its live action remake of Snow White.

Looks like this premiere won’t be the fairest of them all.

After suffering intolerable backlash over the forthcoming live-action “Snow White,” Disney has decided to scale back its usual over-the-top premiere in Los Angeles, reported Variety on Tuesday, March 11.

Instead, the studio has allegedly opted for a quiet, laid-back preparty and screening at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on March 15.

Unlike usual red carpets, “Snow White” stars Rachel Zegler, 23, and Gal Gadot, 39, will not be answering questions from dozens of different media outlets, as Disney has allegedly hand-picked only a select few photographers and a house crew to cover the high-profile event.

Zegler plays “Snow White,” and Gadot stars as the Evil Queen. Both starlets are expected to attend the premiere next week.

Rachel Zegler in the upcoming 2025 Disney movie Snow White.

Disney did not comment when contacted for comment. The Post reached out to Zegler and Gadot’s reps but did not immediately hear back.

“Snow White” will hit theatres on March 21 — however, the Marc Webb-directed film has been bombarded with controversy following the decision to replace the fairy tale’s seven dwarfs with “magical creatures” of all sizes and genders.

Many accused Disney of being too “politically correct” and “woke.” Others also took issue with Zegler, a Latina actress, being cast as the lead.

Even “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage, who has dwarfism, shared his critiques.

“Literally no offence to anyone, but I was a little taken aback [when] 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,’” Dinklage said in January 2022.

“You’re progressive in one way but then you’re still making that f – king backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together. What the f – k are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.”

Disney responded by claiming it was taking a “different approach” to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes” from the 1937 film.

Zegler has sparked backlash from a legion of fans on social media. Picture: Supplied.

Zegler has faced her own criticism after she spoke out against those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election and for calling the original animated “Snow White” “extremely dated.”

“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 and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave and true,” the “West Side Story” actress said in 2022.

Gadot, who is Israeli, and Zegler have been outspoken about the ongoing war in Palestine, with the latter writing “free Palestine” on X after the first “Snow White” trailer was released online.

In February, Zegler opened up about the movie’s backlash.

“I interpret people’s feelings about this film as passion for it, and what an honour to be able to be a part of something that people are so passionate about,” she told Vogue Mexico.

“We’re not always going to have the same feelings as everyone around us and all we can do is give our best.”

This story originally appeared on New York Post and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Disney’s last minute scramble to avoid growing Snow White controversy