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Sean Ramasuram
Today, explained Sean Ramasuram here with Nadira Ghaf, staff writer at Slate. Nadira, Disney's got a new movie coming out this week. Is everyone enchanted?
Nadira Ghaf
No. I think that there is a lot of confusion and a lot of controversy around Snow White, Magic mirror on the.
Constance Grady
Wall, who is the fairest of them all.
Nadira Ghaf
But yeah, it's safe to say that not everyone is enchanted.
Rachel Zegler
This was my father's kingdom, a place of fairness. But the qu change everything.
Sean Ramasuram
Now I have to ask, as a student of the Brothers Grimm, how many controversies are there?
Nadira Ghaf
Well, you're in luck. You're so lucky. Today is your lucky day because there happens to be about seven.
Sean Ramasuram
Oh my goodness.
Constance Grady
Wait, wait.
Nadira Ghaf
It's a human.
Rachel Zegler
What did you think I was?
Sean Ramasuram
Nothing. Ghost. Snow White and the seven controversies coming up on the program. Today.
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New Yorker Radio Hour
You come to the New Yorker Radio Hour for conversations that go deeper with people you really want to hear from, whether it's Bruce Springsteen or Questlove or Olivia Rodrigo, Liz Cheney, or the godfather of artificial intelligence, Geoffrey Hinton, or some of my extraordinarily well informed colleagues at the New Yorker. So join us every week on the New Yorker Radio Hour wherever you listen to podcasts.
Constance Grady
Hey, hey, everybody.
Narrator
It's Today Explained. Gather round, old and young, because it's time for controversy number one.
Nadira Ghaf
So I would say that if I'm, if I'm charting it, the first controversy actually stems from from comments made by very popular, very beloved actor Peter Dinklage, who has a common form of dwarfism. And the original Snow White has been criticized for being ableist, specifically for its portrayal of the seven dwarves and specifically for portraying them as childlike. Right? And so when this movie was announced, there was a big question mark of what were they going to do about that element. And when Peter Dinklage was on Marc Marin's WTF podcast, they got to talking.
Sean Ramasuram
About, you're progressive in one way and then, but you're still making that fucking backward story of seven dwarves living in a cave. What the fuck are you doing, man?
Nadira Ghaf
And he called Disney out for hypocrisy, for patting themselves on the back for casting a Latina actress as their, quote, unquote, fairest princess. Right. Disney responded very quickly, saying they were taking a different approach, that they were going to talk to the dwarfism community.
Sean Ramasuram
Okay. Like, they're gonna do some, like, soul searching around the portrayal of Dwarf.
Nadira Ghaf
I mean, it's very unclear because what happened next was an alleged photo from the set leaked, which revealed that the Dwarves had seemingly been replaced by actors in a diversity of genders, heights and ethnicities, only one of whom had dwarfism. And so that made headlines. And then in the final product, they seem incredibly reminiscent to the original animated Dwarves, just this time. CGI animated, huh. So I don't necessarily know what conversations were had, but it's definitely that element alone has taken its own journey.
Narrator
Controversy number two. You're telling me. I'm telling you. Tell everyone in cities and towns they've turned Snow White into Snow Brown.
Nadira Ghaf
I mean, some people online have probably called her that, considering that anytime these days that there is a remake or an adaptation of popular beloved ip, especially where in which the main character, the titular character is white, you will always have a contingent of more conservative traditionalists, let's say, who are going to push back against any sort of diverse casting.
Gal Gadot
This surprised me because it's Snow White, whose skin was described as white as snow. I don't know what they're going to call Snow White. Is it still going to be Snow White?
Nadira Ghaf
Critics, this choice represents yet another example.
Narrator
Of Hollywood prioritizing diversity quotas over staying.
Nadira Ghaf
Faithful to the source material. And so people were always going to be angry at the idea of Zegler portraying Snow White, Zegler being half Colombian, half Polish. And she did receive some incredibly racist pushback from that online.
Narrator
The trolls are mad. The trolls are sad. The trolls think Rachel will be bad. But it's not just that she's not as white, it's also that she likes a fight.
Nadira Ghaf
Yeah. So outside of the more culture war type of pushback, Rachel Zegler has also upset seemingly everybody on the Internet. At one point regarding this particular film, she told Extra tv there is a.
Rachel Zegler
Big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Yeah, weird.
Nadira Ghaf
Weird.
Rachel Zegler
So we didn't do that this time.
Nadira Ghaf
She told Entertainment Weekly that the original film was extremely dated when it comes.
Rachel Zegler
To the ideas of women being in roles of power.
Nadira Ghaf
And also, funnily enough, that she was terrified of the original as a kid. And so she only rewatched the movie for the first time in years in order to prepare for the upcoming adaptation. And fans definitely did not love that the star of the remake of one of their childhood favorites was so critical of it that it seemed like maybe she wasn't even a fan of the original movie. So that definitely didn't sit well.
Sean Ramasuram
I'm sorry, I haven't seen this movie in a minute.
Nadira Ghaf
Is the prince a stalker I would lean towards perhaps. Maybe, yes. Rachel Zegler might be onto something there.
Gal Gadot
Now that I found you hear what.
Narrator
I have to say. And it's not just fights of Rachel's own design. It's also Israel, Palestine.
Nadira Ghaf
So the evil queen is played by Gal Gadot, who very famously has also portrayed Wonder Woman and also very famously is an Israeli actress. She has served a mandatory stint in the IDF when she was in her 20s. She's been very vocally pro Israel. I mean, just a couple weeks ago, she was honored at the Anti Defamation League's annual summit where she gave a speech about fears of anti Semitism.
Constance Grady
And never did. I imagine that on the streets of the United States and different cities around the world, we would see people not condemning Hamas, but celebrating, justifying and cheering on a massacre of Jews.
Nadira Ghaf
And if you contrast that with Zegler, who throughout her career has been very vocally political, particularly with how she posts on social media and online, it's safe to say that within that bucket, she has also been very vocally pro Palestine. She's called on social media for a free Palestine and for people to contribute aid relief to Gaza. And so there is a bubbling rumor that there is a feud between the two lead actresses of this movie.
Narrator
Moving on to controversy the fifth, Zegler's.
Nadira Ghaf
Very well known for being vocal online. Go vote blue.
Rachel Zegler
And if you disagree with this sentiment.
Gal Gadot
Just hit the unfollow button.
Narrator
Oops. Never mind.
Nadira Ghaf
Especially politically, and her politics tend to lean left. And I would say this probably contributes to the film's current controversy. She actually posted an impassioned anti Trump message to her Instagram stories following the 2024 election in which she not only lambasted Trump, but also his fans, saying, quote, may Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace. End quote.
Sean Ramasuram
Ouch.
Nadira Ghaf
That upset everyone who aligns themselves with Trump, and she later apologized. Zegler apologized, took it down, and she said, quote, I let my emotions get the best of me, end quote.
Narrator
Very well then, controversy the fifth, this time for real. What is Disney's Snow White deal?
Nadira Ghaf
So while the first four had more to do with the production of the movie, with Rumors of behind the scenes drama with global politics. Somehow the final three have more to do with the way that Disney is promoting this movie, the rollout of it and everything that we sort of see on the current back end leading up to the release of this movie. So I would say that the fifth controversy has to do with the two stars. Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot have not been promoting the movie together as often as someone would expect. They did join forces to present an award at the Oscars just recently.
Sean Ramasuram
I saw that Rachel Zegler and Gadot.
Constance Grady
Visual effects push the boundaries of what we see on screen.
Rachel Zegler
Their work makes the impossible seem possible.
Nadira Ghaf
I mean, they seemed cordial enough, but other than that, they've been on what feels like entirely separate press tours and it's unclear if they're ever going to sort of be seen in the same frame again. There were talks of a junket, a press junket that the cast and crew were going to do, but it was unclear if they were going to do it together. It's also unclear if it's been done. I haven't seen any clips from it.
Narrator
As of yet, but that's not all. At the House of Mouse, for those who sit both high and low, you might have trouble on Fandango.
Nadira Ghaf
So I would say the sixth controversy, controversy, the sixth, if you will, is that. And let's. I would say that, that I would attribute more to sort of the ticket sales, the difference in advance ticket sales. So usually for a Disney property, they would have tickets go on sale in advance for about a month out before the film actually premieres. But in this case, they didn't make advance ticket sales available until less than than two weeks before the movie's premiere. And in all the reports about this, everyone who's interviewed, all the theater owners and the industry professionals basically say that the sort of main reason that they can think of for this being the case is that Disney was afraid that people weren't going to be buying tickets and then they would get headlines about how the advanced ticket sales weren't selling out. So everyone seems to think that it's an indicator of Disney being afraid that the movie won't.
Narrator
And last but not least, a cultural feast. A celebration divine and oh so hearty. But would you believe an afternoon party?
Nadira Ghaf
So the final controversy controversy the seventh is that where Disney Studios would usually host a bustling, lively, populated premiere, particularly in the States, it's been reported that instead on March 15, they held what was a very scaled back red carpet interviewer employed by Disney only right like no outside journalist presence. Premiere, the assembly of photographers was reported to be much smaller than usual. In a statement from Disney to the Hollywood Reporter, they claimed that they were, quote, mounting a more celebratory family friendly afternoon event to match the tone and target audience for the film. End quote. And I will also say that they sort of did a similar thing in the European leg. Usually for these films, for these big blockbuster movies, they'll have a very big London or UK premiere. And instead of doing that, it seems like Snow White only got what outlets are calling a premiere event or a special event in Segovia, Spain, in front of the original castle that has inspired the famous Disney castle. And I think that this is maybe the most damning controversy of them all, because at the end of the day, if you're not promoting your movie, if you're not putting your actresses out there, it seems as though there actually might be something going on underneath the surface.
Sean Ramasuram
Seven controversy. I'm guessing at least six more than Disney could have expected. But do you think Disney has maybe come to the point of second guessing, remaking all of their classics? Or do you think they'll continue down this path? Are there even any more to make?
Nadira Ghaf
I mean, probably, but I'm more so thinking Live Action Princess and the Frog. We haven't gotten. There's still a few princesses in the tank. I think maybe my answer to your question is I don't think Disney will ever stop. I mean, I think that what they might do is pivot to more external or supplementary stories like Barry Jenkins Mufasa instead of yet another Lion King. So I don't know, we'll see. But I do think they're going to play in the wheelhouse of their own IP until the end of time.
Narrator
Nadira Goth at Slate. She doth write. But what would the Brothers Grimm say on this night? Would they celebrate? Would they complain? Let us turn the page on Today explained.
Sean Ramasuram
This week on Unexplainable.
Gal Gadot
I, like decided, I don't know, at some point in high school that I would dedicate my life to trying to do as much good as possible.
Sean Ramasuram
How a group of moral philosophers started a movement.
Nadira Ghaf
I think it appeals to young people. I think it feels like you can do anything whose mission.
Gal Gadot
I think AI is one of the biggest threats, but I think we can.
Nadira Ghaf
Aspire to guide it in a direction.
Sean Ramasuram
That'S beneficial to humanity to prevent the AI apocalypse. I'm like, damn, I think I can actually move the needle on this good robot. A four part series about AI from.
Nadira Ghaf
Julia Longoria and unexplainable wherever you listen.
Josh Muccio
I'm Josh Muccio, host of the Pitch where startup founders raise millions and listeners can invest. For lucky season 13, we looked at 2000 companies and selected 12 of the very best founders to pitch in Miami. They flew in from all over the country and the world.
Narrator
My name is Michele and I'm from Italy.
Rachel Zegler
I'm originally from Medellin, Colombia.
Gal Gadot
I was born and raised in Maysville, Kentucky. I'm from Baltimore, Maryland and I am from Finland.
Josh Muccio
This season we're diving even deeper into the human side of venture as these founders pitch the sharpest early stage VCs in the game.
New Yorker Radio Hour
I normally don't like edtech, but I really like you.
Narrator
I echo those sentiments.
Gal Gadot
I do want to push back though. Toughen up there, lady. That's healthcare.
Sean Ramasuram
I'm the lone dissenter.
Rachel Zegler
Ooh, Charles, Spicy.
Nadira Ghaf
So I'm out.
Sean Ramasuram
I'm sure when they air this episode, they'll be like, charles was really dumb.
Rachel Zegler
For those who can't see my Jaws.
Josh Muccio
Currently on the floor, season 13 of the pitch is out now. Episodes are available to watch on YouTube or listen on your podcast player of choice. So subscribe to the Pitch right now.
Sean Ramasuram
Hi Ho Today Explained is back. I'm still Sean Ramis room. Nadira's gone, but our friend Constance Grady is here. She's a senior correspondent on the culture team at Vox. Constance, you've written about Snow White several times in your career. Of all the Disney princess movies, and there are many, how important is this one?
Gal Gadot
Snow White is pretty important. You know, the princess is famous for being the fairest of them all. But I would go so far as to say that the movie is maybe the most important of them all.
Sean Ramasuram
Of any of them. Even Frozen.
Gal Gadot
Okay. I love Frozen so much. Olaf, you're melting.
Rachel Zegler
Some people are worth melting for.
Gal Gadot
Like, it's a much more fun movie to watch. But Snow White is the first, not only Disney princess movie or Disney animated movie. Snow White is the first full length animated feature film that anyone ever made. So Snow white premieres in 1937. So up until that point, Disney is just making short movies. Throughout the 1930s. They're making those little reels, you know, that play before the feature movie with the newsreel. And then they decide they're gonna make a feature length movie and it's gonna be Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We'll clean the house and surprise them. Then maybe they'll let me stay. People are convinced this is a terrible idea. Newspapers at the time Call it Disney's folly. First of all, animated movies at the time, they're cartoons, right? They're like Mickey Mouse does like a silly gag. It's slapstick. It's mostly animal characters. Because no one has really figured out a way to animate humans in a way that's fun to watch. Like, this is kind of where traditional animation is at this stage. And everyone's like, who would want to sit through like an hour long movie of that? That's a terrible idea.
Sean Ramasuram
But then it comes out and what? It's the bee's knees.
Gal Gadot
Audiences immediately love Snow White in this, like very, very deep, intense, visceral level. People are bursting into tears in the movie theater. Sergei Eisenstein, who's the Soviet director who invented montage, he calls it the greatest film ever made. It ends up grossing $66 million at the box office. That's $1937. Much, much more today. And at the time, it was the highest grossing sound picture ever made.
Sean Ramasuram
And what made it such a smash success, was it the length? Was it groundbreaking animation?
Gal Gadot
Yeah, the animation really was groundbreaking in a way that I think is hard for us to understand at this point, because this is just what animation has looked like for so long for us. But animation before this really was cartoonish and silly and sort of vaudeville y. But Snow White created this really naturalistic, painterly style which was very, very expensive and labor intensive to do. Right. So to make Snow White, Walt Disney is pouring money into his studio. He's having his animators study figure drawing and like the play of light in moving images and this tradition of European fairy tale illustrations. He's also building new technology. He makes what's called the multiplane camera, which is this hugely expensive piece of equipment that lets you pull the camera through lay panels when you're depicting a background. So Snow White is not a silly, funny cartoon animal who is stuck on a flat plane. She's this really expressive, human looking character who can sing and dance gracefully. And she's in this really rich dimensional space that looks like an oil painting. It's a totally new effect.
Sean Ramasuram
Amazing. So Disney's innovating the heck out of animation with Snow White, but not creating new intellectual property. This is existing fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm. How much did they change from the original story with this animated feature in 1937?
Gal Gadot
Oh, my God, they changed so much about the Brothers Grimm story. Disney famously gets rid of all the violence from the Grimm fairy tales in their adaptations. So probably the most famous change they make is the way that Disney Kills off the evil queen is she accidentally falls off of a really high cliff, and it's her own fault. And Snow White's hands are completely clean. Right. In the Grimm story, the way they kill off the evil queen is Snow White and the prince invite her to their wedding, and then they make her dance in red hot iron shoes until she burns to death.
Sean Ramasuram
Not okay.
Gal Gadot
It's not a thing in most versions of Snow White that she's awakened by true love's kiss until Disney gets their hands on her. So actually, the Grimms really change this up a number of times as they're editing the story across all the additions that they make. But in the first version that they collected and wrote down, the prince takes Snow White's unconscious body to his castle, and he, like, has his surface. Yes. It's not clear what he plans to do with her, but he just, like, has his servants prop up her body, like, at the table across from him while he's eating dinner.
Sean Ramasuram
So he is a creep.
Gal Gadot
I mean, he's not. Not a creep. And then eventually, one of the servants gets really sick of this, and he hits Snow White's body, kind of giving her an accidental Heimlich.
Sean Ramasuram
Oh, my goodness.
Gal Gadot
And the poison apple flies out of her throat and she wakes up, and that's the happy ending.
Sean Ramasuram
And that brings us to this current feature, which I know you've seen, and I want to ask you how it is generally, but before we get there, how much do they change from the original Brothers Grimm source material, perhaps, but more importantly to today's conversation from the 1937 features.
Gal Gadot
The main change, I think, from the original movie is that the original movie is designed like an opera. Snow White is this very static, passive character. She doesn't really have a character arc. And that's the kind of storytelling Disney's really stepped away from in the years since then. The way they tell stories now tends to be where there's something that the main character wants and they have to overcome some kind of inner flaw and they grow as a person in order to get it.
Sean Ramasuram
Classic.
Gal Gadot
Yeah, that's the classic kind of hero's journey type arc. So what that looks like in this new live action Snow White is they reinterpret the idea of Snow White being the fairest of them all as being about justice. So Snow White believes in fair play, and her goal that she wants to accomplish is to protect her kingdom from her wicked stepmother who's an unjust ruler.
Rachel Zegler
Your Majesty, people are struggling, and it may not be much, but when I was Young, my parents and I would pick apples. We'd take them and make pies and go out into the village.
Constance Grady
Pies are luxuries. They don't need luxuries. It confuses them.
Gal Gadot
And in order to do that, she has to overcome her own fear. So this is a very classic quest narrative that gets kind of grafted on top of this weird, allegorical, creepy fairy tale in ways that are a little confusing because they really have very little to do with each other as stories.
Sean Ramasuram
So it sounds like you're saying, Constance, that some of these changes they've made for this new movie are good and maybe some of them are less good.
Gal Gadot
There are some changes that they made to the new movie that I think are interesting. On paper, it is an, I would say average to bad movie. I think it is a movie that just. It reads like it was designed by a committee whose big priority is to avoid offending as many people as possible.
Sean Ramasuram
And yet so many people are mad.
Gal Gadot
So many people are mad. So they really didn't pull that off. And yet it is still the most boring possible way to make a movie.
Sean Ramasuram
Do you think, having spent so much time thinking about and writing about this original 1937 Snow White, which everyone can close their eyes and picture, it lives rent free in all of our minds, do you think this, this newer Disney could learn something from that? Vintage Disney?
Gal Gadot
Yeah, I think that the reason that Disney's first version of Snow White is so successful is really that it was something brand new that no one had ever seen before. And in the decades since that first movie, Disney's been really, really good at building a brand based on nostalgia. And that makes sense because they've been so fundamental to the childhoods of so many people. But at the end of the day, that nostalgic legacy was made possible because of this incredible innovation that they did. And I would love to see Disney make a new movie that. That does look like something no one has ever seen before. Now in 2025.
Narrator
ConstanceGrady Vox.com but there are so many more. Please follow along. Devon Schwartz is our hero. He made today's show with Amina, Laura, Patrick and Andy in tow. There's also Peter, Travis, Miles and Hardy, Amanda, Victoria, Carla and Gabby. There's Avishai, Jolie and Noel King so heavenly and lest we forget our Queen Miranda Kennedy. For music we rely on Break Master Cylinder and WNYC keeps us on the radio. D Dear listener, my time has come. Now what doth say? The Fox today explained is but one part of Vox.
Summary of "Snow White and the Seven Controversies" – Today, Explained Podcast
Today, Explained by Vox delves into the multifaceted controversies surrounding Disney's latest adaptation of the classic fairy tale, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." Hosted by Sean Rameswaram and featuring insights from Nadira Ghaf, a staff writer at Slate, the episode meticulously dissects seven key areas of contention that have stirred public debate since the film's announcement and subsequent release.
Timestamp: 02:17
Nadira Ghaf highlights the initial backlash directed at Disney's depiction of the seven dwarves, critiqued for perpetuating ableist stereotypes by portraying them as childlike. The controversy intensified when renowned actor Peter Dinklage, known for his advocacy against ableism, publicly criticized Disney for maintaining these outdated portrayals despite the company's claims of progressive casting.
Quote:
Sean Rameswaram (02:55): "About, you're progressive in one way and then, but you're still making that fucking backward story of seven dwarves living in a cave. What the fuck are you doing, man?"
Timestamp: 04:15
The casting of Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress of Colombian and Polish descent, as Snow White sparked significant controversy. Traditionalists and conservative voices online labeled her "Snow Brown," arguing that this diverse casting deviates from the character's original depiction as a white princess. This move was seen by some as Disney prioritizing diversity quotas over fidelity to the source material, leading to a wave of racist and xenophobic backlash against Zegler.
Quote:
Nadira Ghaf (04:57): "This choice represents yet another example of Hollywood prioritizing diversity quotas over staying faithful to the source material."
Timestamp: 05:27
Rachel Zegler's portrayal of Snow White also faced criticism for deviating from the traditional romantic narrative. In interviews, Zegler expressed discomfort with the original film's depiction of Snow White's love story, particularly critiquing the prince as a "stalker." Her openness about these reservations led fans to question her genuine affection for the beloved classic, further fueling negative sentiments.
Quote:
Rachel Zegler (05:43): "We didn't do that this time."
Timestamp: 06:51
The episode sheds light on the palpable tension between Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who portrays the Evil Queen. Their differing political stances—Gadot's outspoken support for Israel and Zegler's vocal advocacy for Palestine—have reportedly created friction on set. This divide has raised concerns about the potential impact on the film's collaborative environment and overall promotion strategy.
Quote:
Nadira Ghaf (07:14): "There is a bubbling rumor that there is a feud between the two lead actresses of this movie."
Timestamp: 08:04
Rachel Zegler's active engagement in political discourse has added another layer to the film's controversies. Her public critiques of former President Trump and her subsequent apology after backlash illustrate the challenges actors face when their personal political beliefs intersect with their professional roles. This incident has polarized audiences, particularly among Trump supporters, exacerbating the film's contentious reception.
Quote:
Nadira Ghaf (08:44): "Rachel Zegler might be onto something there."
Timestamp: 10:54
An unusual delay in the availability of advance ticket sales has sparked speculation about Disney's confidence in the film's success. Typically, Disney releases tickets a month prior to the premiere, but in this case, sales were only opened two weeks before. Industry insiders suggest this move indicates Disney's apprehension about the film's box office performance, potentially reflecting underlying issues in production or public perception.
Quote:
Nadira Ghaf (11:31): "Everyone's think that it's an indicator of Disney being afraid that the movie won't."
Timestamp: 12:08
Contrary to Disney's tradition of grand premieres, "Snow White and the Seven Controversies" featured a subdued red carpet event with limited media presence. This scaled-back approach extended to international premieres, such as the event in Segovia, Spain, near the castle that inspired Disney's iconic backdrop. Critics argue that this lackluster promotional effort may hint at deeper issues affecting the film's reception and Disney's marketing confidence.
Quote:
Nadira Ghaf (13:39): "If you're not promoting your movie, if you're not putting your actresses out there, it seems as though there actually might be something going on underneath the surface."
Timestamp: 13:57
In wrapping up, Nadira Ghaf speculates on Disney's ongoing strategy with live-action remakes. While acknowledging the brand's reluctance to abandon its extensive intellectual property library, Ghaf suggests that Disney may eventually shift towards original narratives or supplementary stories to mitigate similar controversies in the future.
Quote:
Nadira Ghaf (14:34): "I think they're going to play in the wheelhouse of their own IP until the end of time."
This episode of Today, Explained offers a comprehensive examination of the myriad challenges Disney faces in modernizing a classic tale amid evolving societal expectations and the complex interplay of politics, representation, and corporate strategy.