'Oops! Mistake' Actress Apologizes After Insulting Trump... Calls to Remove Her from Snow White Role Surge

"Trump, a Threat to American Democracy" Criticism
Eventually Apologizes Amid Sharp Backlash

Rachel Zegler (23), the actress who played the lead role in Disney's live-action film 'Baekseolgongju' (Snow White), criticized Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, and his supporters, but faced a strong backlash and apologized.

[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

On the 6th, after Trump's presidential election was confirmed, Zegler posted on Instagram, "I expect another four years of hate," adding, "There is a deep, deep sickness in America that can be seen in the many people who showed up for this man who threatens democracy. I hope Trump supporters, those who voted for Trump, and Trump himself never know peace."

The conservative camp immediately erupted. Megyn Kelly, a conservative commentator formerly of Fox News and NBC News, strongly criticized on her radio show, saying, "Disney should fire this woman and reshoot the movie. There is a problem with this person. She needs to leave immediately." She also personally attacked Zegler by calling her a "pig."

As the criticism grew louder, even mentioning the upcoming release of the movie Baekseolgongju, Zegler eventually posted again on the 14th to apologize for her remarks. She wrote, "I sincerely apologize for the election-related post I shared on Instagram last week," and added, "I am sorry for fueling negative discourse while caught up in emotions." However, criticism continues to follow the posts Zegler has been making since then.

The Birth of a Latinx Snow White with Non-White Skin

The live-action film of Disney's classic 1937 animation Baekseolgongju is scheduled to be released in the United States in March next year. Inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale from 1812, the story begins with a queen who gives birth to a daughter named Snow White, described as having "skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony," and then dies.

Zegler, born to a Colombian mother and a Polish father, faced backlash from fans of the original animation after her casting as Snow White was announced in 2021. The reason was that her skin color was not white. However, at the time, Zegler responded, "The name Snow White has nothing to do with skin color," and "I will not whiten my skin for the role."