A video of Rachel Zegler defending the new live-action Snow White movie has sparked controversy after the actress revealed how the new Disney film would differ from the 1937 animated classic.
Zegler, who plays Snow White, will star alongside Gal Gadot, who portrays the Evil Queen. The movie is a remake of the 1937 version and is set to be released in 2024.
Zegler calls the original cartoon "extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power and what a woman is fit for".
When asked how the new Snow White would bring a “modern edge” to the famous movie, Zegler laughed and said, “I just mean that it’s no longer 1937.”
Gadot added that Prince Ferdinand would not save Snow White.
And Zegler went on to say: “She’s not going to be saved by the prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love.
“She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader that her late father told her that she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave and true.
“It’s just a really incredible story for young people everywhere to see themselves in.”
The video has sparked backlash, with users questioning what is so wrong with romance and fantasy being the main themes in fairytales.
Under the same video, one TikToker said: "I get they want to make her more empowering but there’s nothing wrong being saved by a prince, or saving a prince, once upon a time did this perfectly."
Another added: "I feel like if they hated the plot so much why are they making it happen? You could go make another story."
"I feel like if you have to defend it this much it’s not a good sign," another person chimed in.
In a response video, user @thechickflicksshow talked about why women should have to choose between their career or love in today’s time.
"You’re right, it’s no longer 1937. And you know what else women no longer have to do? Choose between a career or love, we can have both."
In another response video, user @shikalord added: "Now, I’m a feminist, so I think you can trust me with this opinion. We do not need remakes where original characters that aren’t supposed to become leaders become feminist icons somehow.
"The whole thing with art and artistic expression is that there should be diverse characters and when every female character has a feminist icon stamp on her, the whole movie industry becomes boring.”
The movie also faced controversy earlier in the year after images of the casting confirmed that the film would not have the seven dwarves, and they would instead be called “magical creatures".
Disney said it changed the dwarfs to “avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film” in a statement to Hollywood Reporter.
A spokesperson for Disney said: “We are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.”
The movie also had social media users questioning why the biracial actress of Colombian and Polish descent played a character known for having skin “as white as snow”.
