A Snow White Producer’s Son Critiques Rachel Zegler Over Social Media Comments
In a recent social media backlash, Jonah Platt, son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, has strongly criticized actress Rachel Zegler. He accuses her of jeopardizing the film’s success through her online remarks.
Following a Variety article revealing that Marc Platt was sent to New York at Disney’s request, Jonah took to Instagram to defend his father’s actions. The producer reportedly approached Zegler to request the removal of her “Free Palestine”comment, made while thanking Disney fans for their support of the Snow White trailer.
In response to criticisms labeling his father as “creepy”for attempting to manage Zegler’s social media posts, Jonah Platt expressed his frustration. He noted: “You really want to do this? Yeah, my dad, the producer of an enormous Disney property worth hundreds of millions of dollars, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20-year-old employee for dragging her personal politics into the promotion of the film for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract.”
He stressed the importance of “adult responsibility and accountability,”indicating that Zegler’s actions are damaging to the film’s overall financial success. Jonah continued, “Free speech does not mean you’re allowed to say whatever you want in your private employment without repercussions. Tens of thousands of people worked on that film, and she hijacked the conversation for her own immature desires, risking the livelihoods of those who depend on its success.”
While Disney and Marc Platt’s representatives have not yet commented on the situation, the producer is known for his significant contributions to the film industry, including leading the successful Wicked production. Platt has previously addressed the challenges of actors who make political statements during interviews on his son’s podcast, discussing how he navigates these complex issues as a producer.
“No decent human being wants suffering for anyone,”Marc Platt stated. He highlighted the need for informed conversations about suffering, cautioning against narratives that ignore all sides of a conflict. “When the moment is right, I prefer to have these discussions where they can be heard and understood, rather than in the heat of anger,” he explained.
Box Office Performance and Mixed Reviews
Last weekend, Snow White debuted with lower-than-anticipated earnings, grossing around $43 million domestically against a $270 million budget. Although projections suggested an opening exceeding $100 million worldwide, the film only managed to accumulate approximately $87.3 million globally.
Several factors contribute to this underperformance. Alongside potential remake fatigue, controversies surrounding the film have raised questions regarding audience interest. These issues include critiques over the portrayal of the Seven Dwarfs and the political statements of Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen. The film has also received a predominantly negative response from critics, achieving a mere 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although audience reactions have been slightly more favorable at 74%.
Rachel Zegler has not shied away from controversy either. Her outspoken criticisms of the original Snow White film and her comments following the 2016 U.S. presidential election have drawn both attention and criticism. Furthermore, her casting as a Latina actress in the traditionally white character of Snow White has polarized some segments of the fanbase.
Nonetheless, Zegler’s performance in the film has garnered appreciation, with even some critical reviewers acknowledging her talent. In the lead-up to the film’s release, she actively promoted the movie, successfully navigating potential pitfalls.
As this situation continues to unfold, industry observers are keenly watching the impact of off-screen controversies on the performance of films, and how the balance between personal expression and professional obligations can influence both viewer perception and box office outcomes.