On March 25, 2025, Variety reported a brewing feud between Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, the stars of Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White. This discord appears to be linked to a controversial tweet by Zegler, which has stirred behind-the-scenes tensions on the film’s set.
The drama unfolded shortly after Zegler’s participation at Disney’s D23 Expo on August 9, 2024, where the first trailer for Snow White was unveiled. Rachel celebrated the trailer reaching an impressive milestone of over 120 million views within 24 hours. In a follow-up post on social media platform X, she made a political statement that drew significant attention:
“And always remember, free Palestine.”
This statement quickly went viral, eclipsing the original post by attracting over 8.8 million views—four times the original. According to Variety, this led Disney executives to express concerns that Zegler was fusing the film’s promotional efforts with a political message, raising alarm about potential ramifications.
In response to these developments, Disney officials reportedly engaged Zegler’s team to address the situation. Marc Platt, the film’s producer, even traveled to New York City for a face-to-face conversation with Zegler. Despite the pressures, Zegler chose to maintain her position, leaving her post intact on X.
It’s important to note that Marc Platt has connections to the Jewish community; his wife, Julie Platt, is an advocate and the Chair of Jewish Federations of North America. In the aftermath of Zegler’s tweet, Gadot faced backlash, including threats that necessitated the studio to enhance her security measures.
The tensions between Zegler and Gadot appeared to escalate following these incidents, even though Gadot remained silent on the issue publicly. A source indicated to Variety that Zegler may not have fully comprehended the impact her comments had, especially on Gadot and the overall project.
Understanding Marc and Julie Platt Amidst the Snow White Controversy
Marc Platt, the founder of Marc Platt Productions since 2001, is well-known in Hollywood for producing successful films like Legally Blonde, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and La La Land. His collaborations with Disney include Into the Woods and Mary Poppins Returns, cementing his reputation in musical cinema.
Since beginning his career as an entertainment lawyer in 1975, Platt has accumulated numerous accolades, including three Tony Awards and four Oscar nominations. He is a University of Pennsylvania and NYU School of Law alumnus, hailing from a traditional Jewish family in Pikesville, Maryland.
Marc is married to Julie Beren-Platt, a respected banker and humanitarian. They share five children, one of whom, Ben Platt, is known for his role in The Sound of Music. Julie is an active philanthropist who has played significant roles within the Jewish community, including chairing the Jewish Federations of North America since 2022. In December 2023, she was appointed Interim Chair of UPenn’s Board of Trustees.
Julie’s advocacy and contributions to Jewish causes were recognized when she received the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor in November 2024, following her fundraising efforts that have raised $855 million for Israel since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.
The Alleged Feud Between Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot Post-Release of Snow White
Initially, Zegler and Gadot’s relationship during filming was described as friendly, but the emergence of differing political views sparked discord. After Zegler’s pro-Palestine tweet and negative remarks about former President Donald Trump, it appeared Disney sought to manage her social media presence more carefully.
However, the pair managed to present together at the Oscars on March 2, 2025. Following the event, a perceived dismissive comment by Zegler about Gadot, labeled as a “professional pageant queen,”fueled further speculation about tension. Though Gadot refrained from addressing the comments directly, she focused on the film’s promotion instead.
Disney’s response included a strategic separation of their press engagements. The actresses did not appear alongside each other during the premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles on March 15, 2025.
After the global release of Snow White on March 21, Zegler shared a tribute on Instagram featuring behind-the-scenes images but notably omitted any mention of Gadot. This omission further fueled the perception of discord between the two.
In a separate post celebrating her filming experiences, Zegler focused on acknowledging other cast members and the production team but similarly did not mention Gadot. This led an insider to inform People Magazine that their friendship was strained due to divergent political beliefs and a notable age difference.
The Snow White reboot continues to garner backlash, with critiques aimed at its modern interpretations of the classic 1937 film. Controversies surrounding the casting decisions, CGI choices for the dwarfs, and script alterations have heavily influenced public opinion, complicating Zegler’s attempts to defend the new direction taken.
For more details, check out the full story on Sportskeeda.