Rachel Zegler believes that the criticism surrounding her casting as Snow White stems from fans' deep emotional connection to the original film. The 23-year-old actress was announced as the lead in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic in 2021. However, some fans expressed outrage over her casting, pointing to her Colombian heritage as a departure from the original character.

Adding to the controversy, Zegler previously described the original film as "extremely dated," criticizing the storyline in which the prince "literally stalks" Snow White. She also hinted at significant changes in the remake. Despite the backlash, she feels honored to be part of a project that means so much to people.

Speaking to Vogue Mexico, she said, "I see the strong reactions to this film as passion. What an honor to be involved in something that people care about so deeply." Zegler has promised to give her best performance when the film premieres on March 21. Acknowledging that not everyone will agree with her, she added, "We won’t always see eye to eye with everyone around us, but all we can do is our best."

Addressing criticism of her heritage, Zegler—whose mother is of Colombian descent—recognized the concerns of those who feel that Latino representation should not be treated as a single narrative. However, she remains proud of her identity and the experiences that shape her career.

"I know my roots, I carry them with me every day, and no one can take that away from me," she affirmed. Her comments follow strong criticism from David Hand, the son of one of the original film’s key animators who worked with Walt Disney. Hand, who himself worked for Disney in the 1990s, called the remake “woke” and said it disrespects the original vision.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he said, "This is a completely different take, and I strongly disagree with it. I know my father and Walt Disney would feel the same way. It’s disappointing to see these classics being altered—changing the characters, their stories, and their original messages. They just aren’t the same films anymore." Hand further criticized Disney for modernizing its classic works, saying, "There’s no respect for what my father and Walt Disney built. I think they would be turning in their graves."

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Snow White.