Disney’s upcoming Snow White movie has been the most controversial live-action adaptation the studio has taken on, and the movie hasn’t even been released yet. First, there has been the fact that the movie stars Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler, who at best, seem to not get along. Then there’s Gadot’s controversial not just pro-Israeli, but pro-IDF stance. Gadot served in the IDF for two years. Contrast that with Zegler’s vocal Pro-Palestine stance and it feels like a recipe for disaster.
Then there are the criticisms of the film itself, from the story to the dwarves and Snow White always had an uphill hill to climb. But there’s no doubt that Zegler and Gadot’s rumored feud was at the center of the issues.
But what exactly happened between Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler? How did the rumored feud start? Here’s everything we know about their relationship, how it deteriorated, and where the two stand today.
Zegler is Cast as Snow White (June 2021)
Zegler is Cast as Snow White (June 2021)
Zegler was cast as the lead of Snow White months before Gadot was cast as the Evil Queen, meaning she was conceived as the centerpiece of the project. At the time she was cast Zegler’s film debut, in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, had yet to premiere, but it had already been filmed.
Gadot is Cast as the Evil Queen (November 2021)
Gadot is Cast as the Evil Queen (November 2021)
Gadot is cast to star opposite Zegler five months later. West Side Story had yet to come out, and Gadot was still a much bigger star than Zegler, but Zegler was still the lead of the project and playing the titular role.
Filming Takes Place (March-July 2022)
Filming Takes Place (March-July 2022)
Zegler comes to film Snow White with a much bigger profile than when she was first cast, and she and Gadot reportedly have a cordial if not close relationship as the film is originally filmed. There are, at least, no reports of any on-set problems.
Zegler Criticizes Trump Supporters After Kamala Harris Election Loss (November 13, 2024)
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Zegler posted on Instagram a long message, that read in part, “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.” She went on to apologize for her remarks. At this point, reports indicate the relationship between the two stars of the films is frosty, at a time when Disney has to start thinking about upcoming press. The two were never friends, but their different political opinions seem to have been what really took their relationship from cordial to distant at best.
Zegler and Gadot Present an Award Together at the Oscars (March 2, 2025)
Zegler and Gadot Present an Award Together at the Oscars (March 2, 2025)
Zegler and Gadot didn’t even look at each other or exchange any words even as they presented an award together at the Academy Awards on March 2, 2025. The mood was decidedly frosty as the two read from the teleprompter and shared not one joke and didn’t even try to banter about their shared experience of filming a movie together. In fact, you’d think they didn’t like each other, with fans claiming it was obvious they “can’t stand each other” after seeing them present the award together. Perhaps it’s because they, you know, don’t. It’s been a long few months of the two of them making clear they had absolutely nothing in common on social media, after all.
Gadot Speaks at the Anti-Defamation League’s Annual Summit in New York City (March 4, 2025)
Gadot Speaks at the Anti-Defamation League’s Annual Summit in New York City (March 4, 2025)
“Never did I imagine that on the streets of the United States, and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews,” she said in her remarks. The organization has been accused of being racist, and Gadot has been criticized for supporting not the indiscriminate killing of innocent Palestinians.
Rachel Zegler Performs at Snow White Event Without Gadot Amid Scaled Back Promo (March 13, 2025)
Rachel Zegler Performs at Snow White Event Without Gadot Amid Scaled Back Promo (March 13, 2025)
Amid Disney scaling back promo for the movie, Zegler was seen performing without Gadot at an event or the movie in Spain. The two are still expected to attend the premiere.
Disney Scales Back Promo as The Studio Reportedly ‘Doesn’t Know What to Do’ With Zegler (March 2025)
Disney Scales Back Promo as The Studio Reportedly ‘Doesn’t Know What to Do’ With Zegler (March 2025)
Disney reportedly scaled back Snow White promo amid reports that the studio reportedly didn’t “know what to do” with Zegler.
“Disney’s lead actress is out of control,” a movie insider told Page Six. “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. It’s been this way the entire way through filming. But it’s the tying of her politics to ‘Snow White’ that is upsetting.”
March 16, 2025: Gal Gadot promotes film by herself.
Page Six reported that Gal Gadot promoted the movie at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. sans Rachel Zegler.
March 15, 2025: Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot Attend Snow White Premiere
March 15, 2025: Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot Attend Snow White Premiere
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the Snow White premiere happened without press on the red carpet at the El Capitan Theater on March 15, 2025. Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler appeared together in “high spirits.”
