Halle Bailey Deserves The Disney Princess Praise That Rachel Zegler Thinks She Has Earned

In a bid to rejuvenate a classic, Disney is recreating the 1937 animated masterpiece, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, into a live-action feature film. Set to release on March 22, 2024, the movie, now retitled Snow White, promises a modern take, steering clear of potential biases inherent in the original. However, the excitement surrounding the remake is quickly being overshadowed by the controversy brewing around the film's lead, Rachel Zegler. Best known for her award-winning performance in West Side Story, Zegler's promotional interviews and antics are sparking backlash.

Zegler's comments indicate a disconnect with the essence of the character she's portraying. She recalled being terrified of the original Snow White movie and its accompanying Disney World ride, yet she also claimed love for the same ride in another interview. She has criticized the original 1937 version for its portrayal of Snow White's love story, emphasizing the new adaptation won't focus on Snow White's quest for love but her journey to leadership. She scoffed at the idea that the original film focused on a love story rather than Snow White becoming a leader. In another clip, she arrogantly demanded that she be paid for every single hour the film will be streamed online because she had to spend 18 hours in a princess dress on set. Every time she opened up her mouth about the upcoming film, people were more and more annoyed at how rude and self-important Zegler seemed.

Zegler was given the role of a lifetime, and there are millions of girls out there who would have loved the chance to play the iconic Disney princess on the silver screen. But instead of being grateful and gracious, she spent all her time in the public eye bashing Snow White and hating on the original fairytale. This attitude is emblematic of a wider generational shift. Gen Z's tendency to critique the past through a modern lens can sometimes lead to a dismissive stance towards older tales and traditions. While re-evaluating dated narratives is crucial, the outright rejection of classics can feel alienating to many, as well as downright tiring and boring. To put it simply, women are sick and tired of the girl boss attitude that sneers at the idea of a woman being in love.

While it's not uncommon for actors to voice their perspectives on characters they portray, the issue lies in Zegler's apparent disdain for the iconic princess, a sentiment that's ruffling many fans' feathers. Her comments, drenched in sarcasm and an almost rebellious attitude against the very role she's taken on, caused an online storm. Some argue that her theatrical background causes her to exaggerate, but the overarching sentiment is clear: fans are unhappy with her representation.

The issue lies in Zegler's apparent disdain for the iconic princess.

Disney's decision to reinvent Snow White for modern times is being met with mixed reactions. While diversifying and adapting old tales to reflect contemporary values can be a commendable initiative, the balance between respecting the original and modernizing it is delicate. As many have pointed out, Disney has a history of strong female leads like Moana, Mulan, and Rapunzel, so why change Snow White?

In comparison, Halle Bailey, who portrayed Ariel in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, consistently expressed appreciation for her character, even amidst controversies. This warmth and respect for the role is markedly absent in Zegler's promotion for Snow White.

Halle Bailey Deserves the Disney Princess Praise That Rachel Zegler Thinks She Has Earned

Many fans of the original The Little Mermaid were a little perplexed by the casting of Bailey because she's black and Ariel was clearly white with red hair. Many accused Disney of selecting an actress based on a diversity quota and simply attempting to grovel at the feet of the woke mob, especially when you looked at the rest of the cast. Ariel's father was played by Javier Bardem and her sisters appeared to be various different ethnicities.

The internet debated Bailey's role in The Little Mermaid for weeks. Some people rolled their eyes at the idea of a black Ariel, while others scoffed at the concept of anyone caring about the skin color of a fictional Disney princess. No matter what the public's opinion may have been, though, one thing can be known for sure in retrospect: Bailey handled the attention and fame with class and grace, which is a stark departure from what we've seen in Zegler.

From the very beginning, Bailey made it clear that she loved Ariel's character and always dreamed of playing the princess. In an interview with Good Morning America (with a group of young girls present), she expressed deep gratitude for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"This is a dream come true for me because this is my favorite Disney princess, Ariel, so I'm in a constant state of wow," she said with a big smile on her face. When asked about that iconic hair flip when Ariel is coming out of the water, she laughed and admitted that it was a difficult shot to capture because she has dreadlocks and her hair is quite heavy. In fact, it took at least 20 takes for them to get the right one, and she even needed the help of a stuntman underwater who helped flip her hair up. But she didn't act like it was a burden, like Zegler complained about wearing a princess dress for 18 hours in a day.

Bailey made it clear that she loved Ariel's character.

Bailey also gushed over the opportunity to meet and spend time with Jodi Benson, the original voice of Ariel. Benson supported Bailey and offered her a stamp of approval, which Bailey called "beautiful and validating." No contempt for the original princess in sight. Just gratitude. Of course, Bailey talked about the importance of representation, referencing the videos on social media of young girls reacting to the new Little Mermaid doll with Bailey's skin tone.

"Seeing beautiful videos like this every day make me cry," Bailey said. "I literally have been sobbing every single day seeing these reaction videos. Im in a constant state of awe and so grateful that they're able to see themselves in a character like Ariel."

This is how Bailey conducted herself in just about every single interview about her Little Mermaid role. She always seemed happy and totally in love with her character. In an exclusive interview with Variety, Bailey said she wore out her family's VHS tape because she rewatched the 1989 classic movie so many times. And every time, she pretended that she was Ariel.

“Her sense of longing, her searching for herself, was something that I could resonate with,” Bailey said. “She knew where she wanted to go, and she wasn’t going to let anybody stop her.”

Even when she talked about the backlash of her being cast as Ariel, she didn't express any hatred or anger towards the people who were upset about a black Ariel. “It’s important to have a strong support system around you. It’s hard to carry the weight of the world on your own," she said. She simply looked to her family for support during the difficult times and continued to be grateful for the amazing opportunity.

Bailey lived up to the Disney princess hype.

Bailey also never pretended like Ariel was going to suddenly transform into this feminist character who didn't need any kind of love story. She recognized that the original Ariel wasn't only becoming human because she found Prince Eric. Before she even met Eric, we saw her deep interest in the human world. She collected an entire cave of trinkets and always swam to the surface to watch what the humans were doing. Saving and falling in love with Eric was simply the cherry on top of her love for the human race. Bailey knew that and acknowledged that Ariel was simply trying to find herself and figure out where she truly belonged.

Meanwhile, Zegler has spent all her time in the press complaining about Snow White and trashing her character. She's loud, cocky, and resistant to any kind of tradition. In the end, only time will tell how Snow White fares at the box office. But one thing is certain: Zegler's controversial promotion has already cast a shadow on the film's reception. Whether this was a calculated PR move or a genuine reflection of her feelings, the live-action remake is now ensnared in debates that reach beyond the cinematic world. Furthermore, Zegler's actions have only reminded us why Bailey lived up to the Disney princess hype in ways that Zegler can only dream of.

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