With Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake set to hit theaters on March 21, tensions surrounding the film appear to increase beyond public backlash, this time involving its two leading stars, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.
Gadot and Zegler’s contrasting political stances have also fueled speculation about potential tension. Gadot, who served within the Israel Defense Forces, has publicly advocated for the discharge of Israeli hostages, while Zegler has used her platform to voice support for Palestine amid the continued conflict in Gaza.
With “Snow White”’s release just days away, Disney’s highly anticipated remake continues to spark conversation, each on and off-screen.
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Rachel Zegler And Gal Gadot’s Relationship Reportedly Strained Amid ‘Snow White’ Drama
Sources claim that Zegler and Gadot aren’t particularly close and have little in common outside of their work on the film.
One insider told People Magazine that their differing life experiences, including their age gap and contrasting political opinions, have contributed to the gap between them.
“Rachel has nothing in common with Gal Gadot, a mom of 4 kids,” the source revealed. “On top of that, their political opinions differ, adding to the stress.”
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Despite any rumored strain of their dynamic, each actresses are expected to attend the movie’s Los Angeles premiere on the El Capitan Theater on March 15. The duo has previously appeared together at major promotional events, including Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022 and the 2024 Academy Awards, where they jointly presented the award for Best Visual Effects.
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Gal Gadot’s Absence From The Film’s Spain Premiere Sparks Speculation Amid Rachel Zegler Drama

“This isn’t like a ‘avoid me’ situation,” the source clarified. “They were on the Oscars together. They’ll be together this weekend.”
While some sources suggest there isn’t a animosity between the co-stars, one other insider stated that their interactions have remained strictly skilled.
“Gal is annoyed by the movie drama,” the insider claimed. “She enjoyed filming. She was effective with Rachel, but they aren’t friends. They don’t have anything in common… They did a job together, and that’s it.”
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Rachel Zegler’s ‘Snow White’ Comments Spark Backlash As Insider Claims Gal Gadot Disapproves

Since being solid as the long-lasting princess in 2021, Zegler has been at the middle of controversy.
The “West Side Story” actress, who’s of Colombian and Polish descent, faced racist backlash from some social media users over a Latina being solid within the traditionally white role. Zegler also drew criticism after calling the unique 1937 animated film “dated” and expressing that the remake would take a more modernized approach to the story.
In accordance with a source, Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, doesn’t agree with Zegler’s approach to the film’s discourse. “Gal’s attitude is that you just don’t criticize and cause drama for a project you signed on to do. She just doesn’t get it,” the insider told People.
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Disney Reportedly Struggles To Rein In Rachel Zegler As Controversy Grows

Meanwhile, sources claim that Disney executives have been struggling to handle the continued controversy.
An insider told Page Six, “Disney’s lead actress is uncontrolled. They don’t know what to do … she’s an outspoken 20-something, and Disney chiefs have called her directly and asked her to tone down her posts. They’ve called her management, but she won’t listen.”
While Zegler has remained vocal on various social and political topics, Gadot has also drawn attention for her stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Gal Gadot Speaks Out On Jewish Identity And Global Reactions Amid ‘Snow White’ Controversy

The “Wonder Woman” star, who’s Jewish, has been outspoken in her support for Israel on social media.
“My name is Gal, I’m a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an actress, I’m an Israeli and I’m Jewish,” she said in a speech on the Anti-Defamation League’s annual summit in Recent York City on March 4. “I’ll say it again. My name is Gal. And I’m Jewish.”
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“Isn’t it crazy that just saying that, just expressing such a straightforward fact about who I’m appears like a controversial statement? But sadly, that is where we’re at today,” she continued, later adding, “Never did I imagine that on the streets of america, and different cities all over the world, we might see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying, and cheering on a massacre of Jews. I do know I’m not the just one on this room after I say that it was a wake-up call.”
With “Snow White” set to hit theaters on March 21, it appears that evidently the lingering drama surrounding its release continues to overshadow the film itself.