Disney is hosting a Hollywood premiere of “Snow White” on March 15, but won’t be rolling out a robust red carpet like it usually does.
The afternoon festivities will include a pre-party and screening at the El Capitan Theatre with titular star Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, expected to attend.
However, the red carpet will not include the dozens of media outlets usually invited by Disney to interview the cast and creatives at its premieres.
Instead, the coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew.
While the studio did not comment for this story, the scaled back plans come amid controversies surrounding the Marc Webb-directed movie, which hits theaters March 21.
Some toxic Disney fans questioned Snow White being played by Zegler when her casting was announced because she is a Latina actress.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star also faced backlash when she called the 1937 original “dated” because the prince “literally stalks Snow White.”
In an interview with Variety at D23 two years ago, Zegler said, “She’s not going to be saved by the prince. She’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.”
Peter Dinklage spoke out about the movie’s portrayal of little people for perpetuating negative stereotypes.
“Literally no offense to anything, but I was sort of taken aback,” he said on the “WTF With Mark Maron” podcast in January 2024. “They were very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White, but you’re still telling the story of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’ Take a step back and look at what you’re doing there.”
Shortly following Dinklage’s remarks, Disney said in a statement to “Good Morning America,” “To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.”
Zegler reasons that the backlash to the movie is due to the “passion” for the original movie. “I interpret people’s sentiments towards this film as passion,” she said in an interview in the March issue of Vogue Mexico. “What an honor to be a part of something that people feel so passionately about. We’re not always going to agree with everyone who surrounds us and all we can do is our best.”
World politics have also come into play. Zegler has promoted “free Palestine” on social media. At the same time, Gadot, who is Israeli, has become an outspoken supporter of Israel on social media.
Gadot has stayed away from politics in the past but has said she felt she needed to speak up after the October 7 Israel-Hamas war.
MAGA supporters also blasted Zegler for her reaction to Donald Trump’s reelection when she posted on Instagram, in part, “May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.”
She apologized for her remarks two days later.
“Snow White” publicity plans have already included Gadot and Zegler presenting together at the Oscars
Zegler is also set to make a promotional appearance in Tokyo as well as travel with Webb to Spain for the movie.
The "West Side Story" star will also host a screening in New York City for the Broadway community.
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