Disney’s “Snow White” producer Marc Platt’s son, Jonah Platt, has come under fire for his public criticism of actress Rachel Zegler for her political comments while promoting the film. Jonah called Zegler “immature” and “narcissistic” in a now-deleted Instagram post, stating that her actions hurt the movie’s box office numbers.
Jonah made these comments after a social media user criticized his father for responding to Zegler’s political posts. He stood up for his father, declaring that Marc Platt, a producer of a major Disney film, had to step in when Zegler brought her own politics into promoting the movie. Jonah pointed out that Zegler was paid a multi-million dollar contract to market the film and that her move took the focus away from the movie and could jeopardize its success.
The controversy is over Zegler’s social media posts, such as tweets criticizing former President Donald Trump and showing solidarity with Palestine. These comments allegedly alarmed Disney executives with fears of alienating parts of the audience. Marc Platt therefore went to New York to address the consequences of her tweets with Zegler. After that, Zegler consented to have any future social media posts vetted by an expert to avoid future controversies.
Jonah Platt emphasized the wider implications of Zegler’s actions, pointing out that tens of thousands of people labored over the film and relied on its success. He contended that bringing personal politics into promotion. The work was not professional and put the hard work of the entire team at risk. He ended by saying that narcissism needs to be discouraged.
The live-action remake of “Snow White” also had its share of challenges, such as casting scandals and criticisms of its adaptation decisions. Although it led the box office on opening weekend, the movie earned $87 million worldwide, a total that was deemed disappointing considering its $270 million budget.
This experience highlights the fine line actors need to walk in voicing personal opinions while engaged in professional work, particularly for high-profile productions with huge investments and diverse audiences.
