Pedro Pascal is standing by Rachel Zegler as backlash over Disney’s live-action Snow White remake grows louder and the box office numbers disappoint. A major star in the Disney universe through The Mandalorian, Pascal showed his support by sharing a photo of Zegler on his Instagram story with the word “Icon.” In just one word, he challenged the growing narrative that blamed Zegler alone for the film’s failure.

Disney’s Snow White Fails To Deliver

The 2025 remake of Snow White carried a massive $270 million budget but failed to capture the audience Disney was counting on. Its opening weekend brought in just $87 million globally, well below even the most cautious projections. Domestically, the film only made $43 million, landing it in bomb territory compared to past Disney remakes like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. The response from critics and viewers wasn’t much better. Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes dropped as low as 19 percent, and even the top critics gave it a dismal 29 percent.

Despite the backlash, many reviewers agreed on one thing. Rachel Zegler was the best part of the movie. Her acting and singing earned praise from both mainstream outlets like Forbes and even outspoken critics in the anti-woke space. Still, it didn’t stop the internet from turning her into the face of the film’s failure.

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Rachel Zegler Becomes The Main Target

Zegler was already under fire before the film even opened. Her press interviews were called “cringe” by some online, especially when she described the original 1937 Snow White story as outdated and focused too much on a prince who “literally stalks her.” Many critics said she was disrespecting the classic. Her social media posts, including one supporting Palestine and another slamming Donald Trump, only added fuel to the fire.

Inside Disney, the tension reportedly grew. Executives worried Zegler’s political statements could hurt box office results. According to Variety, the studio paid for a social media consultant to vet her posts leading up to the release. But while she became the scapegoat, the film’s deeper problems were ignored. Critics pointed to poor writing, a confusing structure, and awkward CGI dwarfs as the real issues. Those decisions came from the top—namely producer Marc Platt and Disney itself.

Jonah Platt Lashes Out To Protect His Father

As the criticism piled up, producer Marc Platt’s son, Jonah Platt, took to social media to shift the blame directly onto Zegler. He defended his father, saying the actress hurt the movie’s success by dragging personal politics into her press tour. He called it a lack of professionalism and claimed her actions affected thousands of workers who depended on the film doing well.

But his attempt to protect his father backfired. Many were quick to point out that Zegler had no control over the script, the direction, or the decision to remove actual dwarfs in favor of disturbing CGI figures. Those choices were made by Marc Platt, the producer Jonah was defending. Critics also slammed Jonah as a “Nepo baby” more concerned with protecting his family’s legacy and profits than addressing the real flaws in the film.

Pedro Pascal Shifts The Conversation Surrounding Rachel Zegler

Amid the finger-pointing, Pedro Pascal stepped in. Known for his role in Disney’s The Mandalorian, Pascal didn’t join the pile-on. Instead, he quietly backed Rachel Zegler by sharing a photo of her on Instagram with the caption “Icon.” It was a simple but powerful gesture. Rather than blame a 23-year-old Latina actress for the film’s failure, Pascal’s post reminded everyone that she was not the one who wrote, directed, or produced the movie.

His support brought fresh attention to how blame in Hollywood often falls hardest on the most visible and vulnerable, while those in power avoid accountability.

Gal Gadot Escapes Scrutiny Despite Controversy

One of the biggest double standards in this saga involves Gal Gadot, who played the Evil Queen. While Zegler’s political posts were treated as damaging, Gadot made highly political comments of her own. Just two weeks before the film’s release, she accepted an award from the ADL and gave a speech linking anti-Zionism to antisemitism. This sparked a wave of organized boycotts in the Arab world. Activist groups across the Middle East urged cinemas not to show the film because of Gadot’s past in the Israeli military and her vocal support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Despite this, most media outlets avoided covering the boycott or its potential impact on the film’s performance. While Zegler’s every move was scrutinized, Gadot’s far more serious controversy barely made headlines. This selective silence has led many to ask why Zegler is taking the fall alone.

Disney’s Blame Game Hides Its Real Failure

As media outlets like Variety rushed to cover the film’s collapse, they painted Zegler as a difficult star with an out-of-control image. But many of her comments matched the actual tone of the film. Snow White was designed to be a modern reimagining, with Zegler playing an independent heroine focused on leadership, not love. That wasn’t Zegler going rogue—it was the movie Disney made.

Disney cast Zegler for her outspoken, progressive image. When the cultural winds shifted and the backlash came, they acted like it was all her fault. But as even critical reviewers admit, the worst parts of the movie weren’t her fault at all. They came from the top.

Final Thoughts

Pedro Pascal’s defense of Rachel Zegler cuts through the noise. He reminded everyone that film is a team effort, and one young actress shouldn’t be made the face of failure. The real issue lies with Disney’s leadership, its handling of the script, its casting decisions, and its marketing strategy. Zegler did her job. She acted, she sang, and she promoted the film they asked her to promote.

The problem wasn’t Zegler. It was everything around her. And now, with more voices like Pascal’s speaking out, the industry is being forced to answer some uncomfortable questions about who it chooses to protect—and who it chooses to blame.

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