Melissa Barrera defends Rachel Zegler amid Snow White controversy and slams media over political bias

Melissa Barrera, who was previously fired from the Scream franchise over her pro-Palestine views, has come forward to defend actress Rachel Zegler amid backlash surrounding Disney's upcoming Snow White film. Zegler, who plays the lead in the film, has been vocal about her political stance—particularly her support for Palestine—leading to renewed scrutiny online and in the press.

In a series of Instagram Stories, Barrera reshared a post that criticized Variety for what it described as a “hit piece” on Zegler. The article allegedly portrayed the actress as “difficult and politically radical,” a portrayal the post refuted, saying it made her look “cool as hell and full of integrity.” Barrera’s public support comes from a place of shared experience, as she, too, was the subject of media coverage that led to her dismissal from Scream 7. The post also featured Zegler’s words from an earlier trailer release where she added, “And always remember, free Palestine.”

Barrera also called out journalist Tatiana Siegel, who has written pieces on both her and Zegler. Barrera’s firing had sparked a ripple effect that led to co-star Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon exiting the Scream franchise. Since then, Barrera has found success in indie horror films like Your Monster and Abigail.

Beyond politics, Snow White has faced multiple creative and cultural criticisms. One major point of contention is Disney’s decision to use CGI for the seven dwarfs instead of casting actors with dwarfism, a move publicly criticized by Peter Dinklage in 2022. Additionally, Zegler’s casting and her critical comments about the original film—calling the love story “weird” and the prince a “stalker”—sparked further outrage online.

Despite ongoing backlash, Snow White continues its theatrical run.