Sean Ono Lennon, son of Beatles icon John Lennon and Yoko Ono, sharply criticized Rachel Zegler, the lead in Disney's live-action Snow White remake, as relayed by multiple news outlets.
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Zegler, who debuted in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, stood out as a highlight in the critically panned film. But she is now facing fierce backlash in what some describe as a "smear campaign" against the 23-year-old actress.
The Independent reported Zegler's earlier statements raised alarms among the film's producers before its release. Many now point to those remarks as a key reason for the movie's weak box office performance.
Her anti-Trump comments, in particular, have spurred online critics to target her off-screen behavior. This backlash has fueled a review-bombing effort on IMDb, where the film ranks among the lowest-rated ever.
'Snow White' Remake Bombs
The controversy grew when Jonah Platt, son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, publicly attacked Zegler. Comedian Russell Brand also called her "haughty." Lennon then weighed in, posting on X/Twitter that while the "vilification" of Zegler has gone overboard, she comes across as a "spoiled, ungrateful, and disconnected brat."
He later removed the post. Previously, Lennon had praised Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot as "exceptionally beautiful women" in response to sexist attacks on their looks.
Zegler first stirred debate in 2023 among conservative critics. She pitched the Snow White remake as more feminist than the 1937 original, saying, "It's not 1937 anymore -- she won't be saved by a prince or dreaming of true love. She's dreaming of becoming the leader she knows she can be."
Before the film's launch, Zegler dialed back her comments. Disney reportedly brought in a social media expert to screen her posts following the initial outcry.
Actress Bashes Trump
The actress, of Colombian heritage, also drew fire from right-wing voices upset about a person of color playing the classic role. Separately, Trump supporters criticized her Instagram reaction to his re-election, where she warned of "four years of hatred." She later expressed regret for fueling "negative discourse."
The situation escalated after Variety reported Marc Platt met with Zegler in New York over her public support for Palestine. Jonah Platt then posted a lengthy rebuke, accusing her of injecting personal politics into the film's promotion. "This is about adult responsibility and accountability," he wrote. "Her actions clearly damaged the film's box office. Free speech doesn't mean no consequences in private employment."
Jonah stressed the broader impact, adding, "Tens of thousands worked on that film, and she shifted focus to her immature priorities, jeopardizing their livelihoods. Narcissism shouldn't be indulged." After two weekends, the film has earned back roughly half its $230-270 million budget, highlighting the financial fallout.
