The ongoing debate surrounding Rachel Zegler and Disney’s Snow White took a new turn after Jonah Platt, son of producer Marc Platt, shared his frustrations about the actress’s social media activity. Jonah’s comments, posted on Instagram, were soon deleted but not before they were widely circulated online.
A Film Marked by Controversy
Disney’s Snow White, which features Zegler in the lead role and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, has been plagued by controversy for over three years. One of the most notable issues arose in 2022 when Zegler criticized the original animated film, calling it outdated and referring to the prince as a “stalker” in an interview with Extra TV. These remarks did not sit well with Disney fans, sparking backlash against the actress.
More recently, Zegler stirred further debate with a post on X (formerly Twitter) in August 2024. After thanking her followers for watching the Snow White trailer, she followed up with another message: “and always remember, free Palestine.” This post reportedly alarmed Disney executives, leading to an intervention by producer Marc Platt. According to Variety, Platt flew to New York to ask Zegler to remove the post. She refused, and the message remains live today.
Jonah Platt Calls Out Zegler’s Actions
Following Variety’s report, a social media user commented on Jonah Platt’s Instagram, questioning whether his father had really flown across the country to confront a young actress about her social media behavior. Jonah Platt didn’t hold back in his response, defending his father’s actions and criticizing Zegler’s approach to promoting the film.
In the now-deleted Instagram post, Platt stated:
“Yeah, my dad, the producer of an enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20-year-old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie.”
He went on to argue that free speech does not shield employees from professional consequences, adding:
“Tens of thousands of people worked on that film, and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires at the risk of all the colleagues and crew and blue-collar workers who depend on that movie to be successful. Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged.”
His comments quickly gained attention, with many debating whether Zegler’s activism was appropriate given her role as the film’s lead. Others criticized Jonah Platt’s take, arguing that actors should be able to express their opinions without corporate interference.
Disney’s Response and the Film’s Performance
In an effort to mitigate further controversy, Variety reported that Disney arranged for Zegler to work with a social media consultant before the film’s release. The goal was to vet her posts to avoid further public relations issues.
Despite these efforts, Snow White struggled at the box office. The film opened to a lackluster $42.2 million domestically—a disappointing figure given its $270 million production budget (excluding marketing costs). Its second-weekend earnings were projected to drop by 68%, with industry insiders attributing part of the decline to the ongoing controversy surrounding Zegler.
The Bigger Debate: Free Speech vs. Professionalism
The situation has reignited a broader discussion about the balance between personal expression and professional responsibility. Some argue that Zegler, as the face of a major Disney film, should have exercised more caution in her statements. Others contend that Disney’s reported attempts to manage her social media presence raise concerns about corporate influence over public figures.
Regardless of where one stands, one thing is clear: the Snow White controversy has extended far beyond the film itself, becoming a case study in the complexities of modern celebrity, social media activism, and corporate responsibility.