For the last few months there have been rumors that Rachel Zegler was fired from Disney’s “Snow White” remake, or wyas no longer employed by Disney, that spread and circulated among fans and on social media, but those claims are wholly false with no legitimacy to any of the claims by anyone. The actress finished principal photography, she did some press work, and she attended the film’s premiere, all of which is evidence that Ms. Zegler’s employment with Disney stands and has even throughout the production and release process.
Rachel Zegler’s Career Journey
From Unknown to Disney Princess
Rachel Zegler’s career trajectory began with her breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” (2021), for which she won a Golden Globe. Born of Colombian and Polish descent, Zegler’s casting as Snow White marked a significant step toward diversity in Disney’s live-action adaptations.
“Never in a million years did I think this will be a possibility for me,” Zegler explained what it was like being cast as Snow White. “You don’t typically see Snow Whites that are Latin a decent.”
The Firing Rumor Origins
How False Claims Started
The misinformation campaign began as far back as September 2023 when the fansite blog, “Inside the Magic,” titled its article, “Disney Officially Fires Rachel Zegler from ‘Snow White’ Live Action, Report Claims.” The blog provided only one source of its sourcing that was from an unverified Tik Tik account and Tik Tik video.
Snopes fact-checkers investigated the claims and found no credible evidence supporting the firing allegations. The TikTok user cited had no credentials as an entertainment journalist or industry insider, undermining the claim’s credibility.
Social Media Amplification
The rumor traveled to Twitter and TikTok and users expressed their false beliefs and false proclamations like “Rachel Zegler got fired from Disney lol!” and similar proclamations with no fact checking whatsoever.This illustrates how misinformation can easily spread on the internet.
Official Disney Response
No Termination Occurred
Disney has never issued any statement confirming Zegler’s dismissal. In fact, all evidence points to the contrary. Zegler completed her contractual obligations, including filming, promotional appearances, and the movie’s premiere on March 15, 2025.
Although the studio has not commented publicly about the rumors, they are following corporate policy by not commenting on every nugget of speculation, and the fact that they worked with Zegler throughout the film’s production and at release speaks volumes.
Completion of Professional Duties
Zegler participated in the film’s promotional campaign; however, it was a different, scaled back campaign given that it was a global issue and there were political contexts at play. She attended the premiere of Snow White at El Capitan Theater in Hollywood and she completed all of the promotional obligations she had according to her contract.
Controversies That Fueled Speculation
Comments About Original Film
Zegler’s remarks about the 1937 “Snow White” animated classic sparked initial controversy. During a 2022 D23 interview, she criticized aspects of the original film, noting that the prince “literally stalks” the heroine.
“The truth is that the cartoon was made 85 years ago, so, it’s super dated, especially having ideas of women being in roles of power,” Zegler said in the interview.
Political Social Media Posts
The drama intensified when Zegler started posting political messages on social media. In August of 2024 — after promoting the trailer for “Snow White” — she provided an addendum to her post saying “and always remember, free Palestine.”
There was a particular kerfuffle on social media that took on a life of its own in November of 2024 after Donald Trump was elected president and Zegler posted “Fuck Donald Trump” and “May Trump supporters never have peace.” After those comments,Disney paid a social media consultant, who was monitoring Zegler social media, to stop monitoring her social media.
Disney’s Management Response
Instead of firing Zegler, Disney put a “social media guru” on her to vet posts prior to the movie release. This step indicated the studio’s attempt to manage the situation while still investing in this actress.
It’s been reported by the celebrity variety site “The Blast” that producer Marc Platt flew to New York and met with Zegler specifically to address her social media usage, but she remained an employee during these conversations.
Why Zegler Wasn’t Actually Fired
Contractual Completion
Zegler completed every aspect of her “Snow White” contract, as she filmed and completed additional filming and promotional activities and the premiere, all while contradicting any firing of her.
Financial Investment Protection
Disney had a substantial investment of $270 million in “Snow White” and most likely was financially motivated to move forward with the film with the original cast. If Disney were to replace a lead actor, it would have meant extensive reshoots and additional costs, and possibly delaying the release.
Current Professional Status
Ongoing Projects
Zegler’s upcoming “Evita” performance demonstrates her continued viability in the entertainment industry. The West End production represents a major career milestone, indicating she has not been blacklisted from high-profile projects.
Future Disney Relationships
Although Disney hasn’t declared any future projects with Zegler yet, the fact that “Snow White” is finished without firing her suggests both parties will retain that professional relationship, no matter how contentious it was recently.
Impact of Misinformation
Damage to Reputation
The ongoing rumors of firing made a lasting impact on some audiences, even inaccuracy. Social media campaigns that continued to perpetuate misinformation, necessitating persistent fact checking.
Industry Implications
The Zegler situation exemplifies the challenges that entertainment companies face when grappling with social media controversy from high-profile talent. Disney’s engagement on the Zegler controversy, while unprecedented, is a significant departure from its managers’ previous handling of other actors and their controversies.
Box Office and Critical Reception
Film Performance
“Snow White,” disappointed at the box office, earning $87 million worldwide its opening weekend, against a huge budget. While many critics separated the controversy, many praised Zegler as Snow White.
Contributing Factors
There were many factors of concern for the commercial failure of the film, including delays in production due to COVID, and controversies about other issues that garnered negative publicity. The unfortunate results of this movie cannot be on Zegler, specifically her social media activity.
Media Analysis and Industry Response
Professional Commentary
Many in the trade have observed that Disney’s handling reflecting industry-wide problems studios face with finding talent in the social media environment. Their engagement to appropriately train the media on dealing with controversy, instead of firing the talent, demonstrates that the company’s intent was more towards managing Zegler’s risk exposure, rather than allowing their talent to replace her.
Comparative Cases
The contrast between Zegler’s situation and other Disney controversies, such as the Gina Carano firing, reveals inconsistencies in how the studio handles employee speech. Critics have noted the different standards applied to various actors based on their project importance and public profile.
Fact-Checking Conclusion
Evidence Summary
A thorough investigation did not yield any credible information supporting any assertion that Rachel Zegler was fired by Disney. Important facts include:
- Zegler completed all contractual obligations for “Snow White”
- She participated in promotional activities and attended the premiere
- Disney hired additional support staff rather than terminating her employment
- No official statements from Disney or Zegler’s representatives confirm any firing
Misinformation Sources
The assertion that she was fired emerged from unverified social media posts, that have then been posted by blogs that would not have been considered credible journalism. Likewise, fact-checking organizations have investigated the claims and denied their validity, but yet the false claim continues to persist.
Current Industry Standing
Professional Trajectory
Rachel Zegler’s booking of the “Evita” West End production reflects that she is still very much a viable talent in the entertainment market. The West End musical would be a high-profile gig, and it would be difficult to believe that Zegler would be able to book such career opportunities if she was being blacklisted for her actions, or if Disney had actually fired her from such projects.
Future Prospects
The continued speculation about Rachel Zegler’s alleged “firing” from Disney has made clear the extent that misinformation can overshadow fact-based reporting in the age of social media. Despite all the speculation on social media, there are not any credible reports that validate the idea that she was fired by Disney. Rachel Zegler has completed the Disney contract, she attended the release of the film, and she moves towards new professional ventures. The situation can also serve as an example of how social media unexplored or unverifiable content can create a social media reality, that becomes a false reality quickly, and that then rarely gets corrected even though new facts in the form of fact-checks come out almost daily.
Disclaimer: This article relies on verified reporting from reputable entertainment and journalism news outlets and fact-checking organizations. Affirmations regarding Rachel Zegler’s termination from Disney have undergone thorough investigations, and have since shown to be inaccurate. Sources were compiled by trusted outlets in June 2025.