Rachel Zegler defends controversial Palestine comments after 'Snow White' drama
Rachel Zegler is reflecting on the "alarming" "Snow White" backlash and doubling down on her support for Palestine.
In an i-D magazine profile, the "West Side Story" actress, 24, defended being outspoken about the Israel-Hamas war after the son of a "Snow White" producer blamed her social media activity for the film performing poorly at the box office.
"I can really only echo Hannah Einbinder in saying that a platform becomes a responsibility, and that responsibility is ours to use as we please," Zegler told the outlet.
She continued, "My compassion has no boundaries, is really what it is, and my support for one cause does not denounce any others. That's always been at the core of who I am as a person. It's the way I was raised." Zegler acknowledged that "there are obviously things that are at stake by being outspoken" but said that "nothing is worth innocent lives," adding, "My heart doesn't have a fence around it, and if that is considered my downfall? There are worse things."
In March, Jonah Platt, son of "Snow White" producer Marc Platt, argued in a since-deleted Instagram comment that Zegler's social media activity "clearly hurt the film's box office." After sharing the trailer for "Snow White" on X in August, Zegler had posted, "and always remember, free palestine."
Platt said in his comment that his father "had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand" Zegler "for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for."
Zegler had also posted that she hopes President Donald Trump and his supporters "never know peace," for which she later apologized.
"Snow White" performed under expectations at the box office in March, grossing less than $100 million domestically. For comparison, Disney's next live-action remake, "Lilo & Stitch," has grossed nearly $400 million at the domestic box office to date, and the studio's live-action remake of "Cinderella" made more than $200 million domestically in 2015.
During the i-D magazine conversation, Zegler said the online backlash she has faced is "really alarming at times" and revealed she has been taking medication for anxiety. But she added, "I think a victim mindset is a choice, and I don't choose it. I also don't choose nastiness in the face of it. I don't choose negativity in the face of it. I choose positivity and light and happiness."
Zegler is currently starring in a revival of "Evita" on London's West End, coming off a performance as Juliet in "Romeo + Juliet" on Broadway.