Pedro Pascal calls Rachel Zegler an ‘icon’ as controversy over Disney’s Snow White remake continues

Pedro Pascal calls Rachel Zegler an “icon” on Instagram as snow white remake faces political and box office backlash.

Amid ongoing backlash surrounding Disney’s Snow White remake, actor Pedro Pascal has publicly expressed his support for the film’s star, Rachel Zegler. The Last of Us actor took to Instagram on March 30, sharing a photo of Zegler on his Stories and tagging her with the caption, “#icon.”

Zegler, 23, has faced criticism since her casting in the live-action adaptation was announced, with some questioning her suitability for the traditionally fair-skinned character. The controversy deepened after she made critical comments about the 1937 animated film, which sparked further online backlash and, some argue, contributed to the movie’s box office struggles.

In a recent Variety interview, Zegler suggested that some of the backlash stemmed from her political views, including her public support for Palestine. Actress Melissa Barrera, who was previously removed from the Scream franchise after making similar statements, showed support for Zegler, calling the Variety article a “hit job.”

Not everyone has been supportive. Jonah Platt, son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, criticized Zegler in a now-deleted post. He revealed that his father flew to New York to urge Zegler not to delete a pro-Palestine post, describing it as professional accountability. He accused the actress of allowing personal politics to interfere with the film’s promotion and blamed her for impacting the project’s performance.

The film’s budget reportedly ranges between $209 million and $350 million. To be considered a success, it would need to earn between $500 and $700 million globally. So far, Snow White has grossed $143.1 million, performing better internationally than domestically. Critics have given it a 41% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience score stands at 74%.

Snow White is currently playing in theaters. Pascal’s public show of support adds to the broader conversation around celebrity activism and its role in shaping public narratives in entertainment.