Snow White Premiere Scaled Back Amid Controversy
The scaled-back premiere event will still feature a pre-party and screening, but the limited media presence and closed red carpet reflect the ongoing controversy surrounding the film's casting and production. As the movie's release approaches, the cast and crew remain hopeful that audiences will focus on the film's message and entertainment value, rather than the surrounding controversy.
Disney has downsized the Hollywood premiere of its live-action Snow White film due to ongoing controversies surrounding the movie's casting and production, with stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot at the center of the backlash. The premiere will now be a smaller, invitation-only event with limited media presence, featuring a pre-party and screening at the El Capitan Theatre, but closing the red carpet to the public and media.
The film's official trailer has garnered 11.8 million views on YouTube since its debut three months ago, despite the controversy. Zegler, a Latina actress, has faced criticism for her comments on the original 1937 film, which some deemed "dated" and perpetuated negative stereotypes. Additionally, her social media posts promoting "free Palestine" and criticizing Donald Trump supporters have sparked backlash. Gadot has also faced criticism for her support of Israel and her speech delivered at the Women in the World summit.
Martin Klebba, an actor who voices Grumpy in the film, has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the movie. As a little person, Klebba was initially hesitant about the use of motion-capture animation for the seven dwarfs but ultimately came to see it as the right decision. He hopes the film will help bring attention to the Marvel character Puck, a dwarf with dwarfism, and expressed his desire to play the character in a future Disney project.
The controversy surrounding the film has led to a less exciting celebration for those involved in the project, with Klebba noting that he is proud of the movie and is looking forward to audiences seeing it. Despite the backlash, the film's stars have continued to promote the movie, with Gadot appearing on "Good Morning America" and Zegler making promotional appearances in Tokyo and New York City.