Movies

Rachel Zegler Stuns at Secret Snow White Premiere Amid Controversy and Co-Star’s Absence!

BBG News

Disney’s modern take on Snow White has stirred up debate, and the enigmatic “private” Spanish premiere further fuels the intrigue as they neglected to provide a grand welcome for international media.

Rachel Zegler, the main actress, made an appearance at a castle in Segrovia, northwest of Madrid, for an exclusive group of VIPs, as Disney reduced the scale of the event due to several controversies and PR issues related to the controversial remake.

Significantly, Gal Gadot, known for portraying the villainous queen, was absent, while director Marc Webb was the sole notable individual connected to the film present at the event.

As a lifestyle expert, I can tell you that, despite being one of the initial happenings following the movie’s release on March 21st, this particular occasion was not officially branded as a premiere. Instead, it was strategically labeled as a ‘European event’, a title chosen after the film’s grand global premieres were replaced by more tightly controlled press events.

Instead of mainstream news outlets being the common attendees, Spanish influencers from the quaint town of Segovia (population 51,000) and local families were selected as special guests at the event.

Zegler and Webb, aged 50, stood out as the sole stars gracing the low-key red carpet, while the absence of their fellow cast and crew was noticeable, especially as an audience assembled outside the castle.

The occurrence happened far from the scrutiny of international media, featuring a staging of ‘Waiting upon a Wish’, where high-profile individuals gathered amongst the spectators, followed by an exclusive dinner for chosen attendees.

The incident transpired off the world’s media radar, involving a production of ‘Waiting upon a Wish’, with VIPs joining the audience, and an invitation-only feast for select guests to follow.

Lastly:

An occurrence took place, unnoticed by the global press, that included a performance of ‘Waiting upon a Wish’ and a private dinner for special invitees, with VIPs in attendance.

A small group of people were offered an exceptional opportunity to watch the movie before its official release, with influential figures sharing sneak peeks from the theater on social networks. However, these guests were asked to keep their opinions about the release private.

Disney reported that various groups, including representatives from the media, content producers, and families linked to local Spanish charities, convened outside a medieval castle, as per their statement.

In my observation, it seemed that fewer prominent influencers graced the event, with most content creators boasting a following in the thousands instead of the millions typically associated with big names in the influencer sphere.

An account on Instagram, dedicated to a Spanish adaptation of Snow White, boasting 3,735 followers, posted images and clips from an exclusive event they were fortunate enough to attend, having received one of the limited invitations.

Among those invited were renowned Spanish makeup artist Nuria Adraos (with 815,000 Instagram followers) and popular Valencian influencer Almu Carrion.

Carrion, with a following of approximately 257,000 accounts, considered the occasion one of the most remarkable experiences in her life. She was treated to fine dining and generous gifts during the celebrations.

Liv Marks-Howarth, a popular figure known for her celebrity interviewing skills and boasting over 79,000 followers on TikTok and 9,500 on Instagram, shared numerous snapshots and clips from the gathering on these platforms.

@olivialilymarks

This scenario resembles a dream, and Rachel’s voice echoes as if from a dream too. #SnowWhite #AwaitingAMiracle #RachelZegler @Disney @DisneyUK

♬ original sound – mywatchhistory

She posted a sneak peek on Instagram of the elegant dinner served during the occasion, which included various feast options along with wine, and attendees received complimentary items from Pandora as well.

On the table, clusters of red roses adorned each place setting, and apples were artfully arranged alongside them, echoing the symbolism from the classic tale’s narrative.

At the event, attendees found their seats at two elegantly lit tables adorned with candles, where they were treated to a themed apple-based dessert as part of the menu. Later on, they could take their turn to snap some memories on an ornate silver throne chair for souvenirs.

Each dish bore a complimentary trinket from Pandora – a necklace and ring adorned with the famous red apple, an item infamously used by the Wicked Queen to poison Snow White in the timeless film.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: “I recently spotted Zegler, the charming Snow White actress, graciously interacting with and signing autographs for a delightful group of children who had gathered in the front row, eagerly waiting for their favorite star. She then stepped onto a minimalistic stage to serenade us with her enchanting voice.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that sentence like this: “I was there capturing the scene as a modest gathering of about 100 individuals, cordoned off by red ropes, watched Zegler perform. A compact film crew was present, meticulously documenting the moment for posterity.

Families associated with charities such as Fundación Aladina, Fundación sin daño, Juegaterapia, Pequeño Deseo, and CEMU were given preferential seating to enjoy Zegler’s solo performance as a thoughtful gesture.

It was announced that the Alcázar of Segovia will be off-limits to the general public on both Wednesday and Thursday due to a scheduled private event, causing its temporary closure.

Indicating another clue that the press was excluded from the occasion, the start date for the premiere wasn’t published on media schedules until it started on Wednesday.

In a different scenario, Spanish fan accounts of Zegler posted proof that the premiere was happening nearby, while Zegler herself uploaded her arrival to Instagram Stories as well.

Instead of taking place in the usual glitzy locations associated with movies of such magnitude, the premiere was held elsewhere, and this decision carried meaning.

In the creation of Disney’s first-ever animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937, the Alcázar of Segovia served as a source of inspiration due to its unique architecture, characterized by its distinctive shape, towers, and steeply sloping rooftops, which are noticeable features in the movie.

Nevertheless, following a string of scandals and public relations disasters associated with the remake, Disney reduced their extravagant premiere plans to only a limited number of closely managed press events.

This month, a source shared with the Mail that Disney is preparing for potential criticism about “Snow White” being too politically correct. They’ve minimized the media coverage to only a few carefully managed press events.

They’ve chosen an uncommon approach by deciding against hosting a London premiere for the movie, and also reducing the number of interviews that Rachel Zegler will face from the media.

This week late, the acting troupe is set to come back to America. On March 15, Zegler and Gadot are anticipated to attend a pre-event and premiere at Los Angeles’ El Capitan Theatre. Only photographers and an on-site team will have access for coverage.

Instead of adhering to the norm by inviting numerous media outlets for coverage and interviews during premieres, the studio has opted to break with tradition in this instance.

Last week, Zegler was present at a promotional event in Tokyo for the movie, given that she’s been heading the media for the remake. However, Gal Gadot and the rest of the cast were not present at the gathering.

Instead of a grand press tour, Disney’s choice to scale it down has puzzled fans, as Martin Klebba, the voice behind Grump, has publicly criticized this decision regarding the film’s premiere.

55-year-old Klebba appeared disheartened, according to TMZ reports, stating that he was “deeply disappointed and somewhat irritated” by the way the situation unfolded, feeling that he deserved a more prestigious red carpet experience due to his involvement.

He suggested that the political views of Zegler and Gadot shouldn’t have drawn so much attention away from everyone else’s dedication and effort.

Zegler is known for advocating for Palestine, whereas Gadot is widely recognized as an advocate for Israel.

After playing the role of Marty in Pirates of the Carolinas, Martin feels well-versed in major Disney openings, and believes Snow White could benefit from a grander debut.

Disney’s decision was made after facing criticism and concerns that the remake seemed to emphasize contemporary social messages over a genuine narrative.

Significantly, the updated version has discarded the conventional romantic storyline, citing concerns about sexism, and instead portrays the Seven Dwarfs as a diverse band of magical beings.

Zegler herself has pointed out that David Hand’s 1937 original animated film is outdated regarding portrayals of women in powerful roles and women’s place in society.

‘The original cartoon came out in 1937, and very evidently so,’ she told Extra TV in 2022. 

Instead, this narrative will emphasize her romantic journey without the unsettling element of being pursued by someone who may be considered as stalking. We chose to steer clear of that approach in this iteration.

Although our film features a male lead, it doesn’t follow the typical love story format that many might initially presume.

‘All of Andrew’s scenes could get cut, who knows? It’s Hollywood, baby!’ she joked.

Regarding the 1937 movie, she stated: ‘The initial version gave me quite a scare. In fact, I only watched it once, and I haven’t felt inclined to revisit it since.’ She was very sincere about that.

In addition, Zegler shared with Variety that instead of yearning for true love, her portrayal of Snow White will be aspiring to become a valiant and bold leader.

Snow White has a well-known moment where she accidentally falls into a watery abyss hidden within a woodland, and I reenacted this scene,” she shared with Cosmo, “I even learned how to scuba dive to ensure I could stay submerged for an extended duration.

During my training, a former Navy man named Pete was always by my side, connected to me. In essence, I invested approximately 48 hours learning how to use the breathing tube. Subsequently, we filmed for an entire couple of days. This exercise lasted for a total of seven hours underwater.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/html_modules/2025/03_MAR/250312_Alcazar_de_Segovia/index.html

Previously, it was disclosed to DailyMail.com that Zegler’s image as a free spirit almost led to her dismissal for the role of Snow White.

Zegler’s strong opinions have prompted some haters to vow to boycott the film.

When it comes to comments regarding her role as Snow White on social media, Zegler maintains that she can’t comprehend why some adults at Disney might have reservations about a Latin actress playing the cherished character.

Zegler explained that the phrase depicting her character’s skin as “white as snow” is connected to a different rendition of the Snow White tale from history, where the character lived through a blizzard that happened when she was an infant.

The monarch and consort opted to call her Snow White as a tribute to her strength, a point they emphasize throughout their production to inspire every young girl and boy.

The star confessed that it was disheartening to witness numerous individuals criticizing her harshly, simply because she suggested her portrayal of Snow White wouldn’t be rescued by a prince.

Disney faced criticism as well when they revealed their intention to substitute “magical creatures” for the traditional seven dwarves, aiming to steer clear of perpetuating stereotypes, following actor Peter Dinklage’s critique last year about the series’ outdated narrative.

He expressed surprise when Disney boasted about casting a Latina actress as Snow White, yet the tale remains Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as he shared during an interview on Mark Maron’s WTF podcast.

It’s hard for me to comprehend. You seem forward-thinking in many aspects, but your continuous tale of seven dwarves residing in a cave appears outdated. I’m curious about your creative process here.

‘Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I’m not loud enough.’ 

Some charities, such as the UK’s Restricted Growth Association, echoed Dinklage’s worries.

Rhonda Cutmore, an association member, expressed strong agreement with Peter Dinklage’s feelings of disillusionment and annoyance over Disney’s remake of Snow White, as she shared this sentiment with The Telegraph.

In the meantime, writer Steph Robson (specializing in Dwarfism) expressed her hope that movie producers would strive to steer clear of stereotypes when remaking the well-known film.

She expressed her wish that the recent live-action adaptation by Disney might, in some fashion, help rectify the longstanding issue of one-dimensional stereotypes related to disabilities, particularly in the arts and cultural spheres, as she shared with the media outlet.

The narrative has faced criticism for its portrayal of dwarves as less intelligent and for depicting Snow White treating them like children, which some viewers find to be discriminatory towards people with disabilities.

Disney later said it’s ‘taking a different approach’ with Snow White’s seven companions.

Last year, the company mentioned that they had been collaborating with individuals from the dwarfism community during the initial phases of the project.

In order to steer clear of perpetuating stereotypes as seen in the initial animated movie, we’ve chosen a unique method when developing these seven characters. We’ve been actively seeking advice from individuals within the dwarfism community on this matter.

Excitedly, we can’t wait to reveal more details now that the movie is moving into production, following its extensive development phase.

Last December, it was reported by reliable sources that the characters traditionally known as Snow White’s “seven dwarfs” would not be entirely computer-generated in the upcoming production. Instead, they will not resemble actual dwarfs.

Instead, she would be befriended by magical, forest-dwelling creatures.

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2025-03-13 14:06

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