### Rachel Zegler Apologizes for Controversial Comments Amidst Calls for Her Firing

Rachel Zegler, set to portray Snow White in Disney's forthcoming live-action adaptation, has publicly apologized for remarks she made following the 2016 presidential election of Donald Trump, stating that her emotions overwhelmed her at the time. This apology comes in the wake of calls for her dismissal by conservative media figure Megyn Kelly.

Zegler has found herself at the center of several controversies recently. Last year, she faced criticism from Kelly and other conservative commentators after an interview surfaced in which she discussed the upcoming "Snow White" film. In the interview, Zegler explained that the new film would feature a modern twist, where Snow White is not rescued by a prince but rather aims to become a leader, steering away from the traditional narrative of dreaming about true love. This perspective was denounced by conservative pundit Ben Shapiro, who derided the attempt to turn the story into a "girl boss" narrative. Similarly, Kelly argued that Disney had "radicalized" the film and criticized the decision to cast Zegler, a Hispanic actress, in the role of a princess traditionally described as having "skin as white as snow."

The actress also faced backlash for her comments on the original "Snow White" film, calling it "weird" and "extremely dated," with too much focus on the love story of a character she described as a "stalker." Apart from the "Snow White" controversy, Zegler had previously drawn attention for her statements regarding her promotional work for "West Side Story," indicating that fielding questions about her co-star Ansel Elgort's alleged sexual assault was a difficult experience.

Megyn Kelly referenced Disney's history when urging the company to reconsider its decision to cast Zegler, pointing to the firing of Gina Carano from "The Mandalorian" in 2021. Carano claimed her dismissal was due to her posts on social media platform X, which were deemed unacceptable by contemporaneous standards. Carano's lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm, supported initially by billionaire Elon Musk and social media platform X, highlights the complex landscape of free speech and employment in entertainment.

As of early Friday, Disney has not commented on the situation involving Zegler, despite outreach for statements. The controversy around Zegler's remark is part of a broader pattern where many celebrities expressed discontent following Trump's victory in the 2016 election. Voices such as Billie Eilish, Hilary Duff, Jessica Alba, and LeBron James also responded negatively in various ways.

Rachel Zegler, who gained prominence through her performance in Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" and later appeared in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" and the "Hunger Games" spinoff "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," continues to navigate the turmoil surrounding her recent comments and roles.