A faction of social media users have expressed outrage over Rachel Zegler's casting in an upcoming live-action remake of Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Users of Gab, the "free speech" social media site popular with neo-Nazis and those banned from other platforms, complained en masse about a 'Black' actress being cast in the role of exiled princess Snow White.
Shortly after it was announced that Zegler—who stars in Steven Spielberg's upcoming remake of West Side Story—@Teamsaveamerica shared the message: "Disney just made SNOW WHITE a black girl.
"I told jokes for the last 2 years saying 'what's next? Are they going to make Snow White black?' Democrats have turned our country into more than a joke... it's a f***ing circus."
Responding to the claim, @McKay86 wrote: "I have no problem with Black Disney princesses, but this has to stop! This anti-White crap is getting freaking old. I am sick and tired of people rewriting history and stories that are originally of European and American White heritage.
"I am not a White supremacist or purist, but to act like Whites are so horrible their heritage, works of art and literature, etc... need to be rewritten and reimagined to fit some weird 'diversity fetish' is [disgusting] and insulting. I am sick of this sh*t."
Meanwhile, @Momof3girls urged a call to action, writing: "Boycott Disney. Their bread and butter comes from conservative families. Yet they sprue all this liberal garbage. Lgbqt week and praise during June.
"Placing black actors in roles were white woman should be playing. This is not about franchising minorities. It is about disenfranchisem*nt of whites."
After a fellow Gab user stated that Zegler is, in fact, of Colombian and Polish heritage, @Momof3girls said: "I will admit I took this post at face value. This actress does not look white to me.
"She has some other race besides Caucasian in her. Snow white is fair as in complexion and beauty. This is a German fairytale which means they were not talking about any other race than white.
"In fact, the story states Snow White is as white as snow which means she was a very light skinned white. I am super offended since my family is very light skinned and have been made fun of for our light skin."
Rachel Zegler is 20 years old and the lead in Spielberg's West Side Story and now live action Snow White AND a key role in a DC film. Her talent is unlimited. pic.twitter.com/sKM58SkZiV
— Ann (@starkidann) June 22, 2021
Amid a scattering of racially-charged comments and epithets, a number of Gab users decried the purported "appropriation" of Zegler's casting in the upcoming film, which is currently scheduled to begin shooting in 2022.
Similar sentiments were expressed by some Twitter users, though many praised the casting, with @starkidann writing: "Rachel Zegler is 20 years old and the lead in Spielberg's West Side Story and now live action Snow White AND a key role in a DC film. Her talent is unlimited."
"Rachel Zegler will now be the first Latina Snow White ever!" @supermangeek101 wrote. "A star is born here as she will definitely slay in West Side Story then she will slay in Shazam: Fury Of The Gods & then she will slay in Snow White! Rachel Zegler is now the new girl on fire! So happy & proud of her!"
"This [is] perfect casting," said @nnocera2580. "After @HalleBailey, Yara Shahidi, and now @rachelzegler, Disney's been doing an amazing job diversifying these classic Disney princesses while still staying by true to the original. All 3 of these ladies look exactly like a Disney Princess come to life."
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In announcing Zegler's casting, the film's director Marc Webb said: "Rachel's extraordinary vocal abilities are just the beginning of her gifts. Her strength, intelligence and optimism will become an integral part of rediscovering the joy in this classic Disney fairytale."
The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, based on the popular fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, was released as an animated film in 1937.
Newsweek has contacted a representative for Rachel Zegler for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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