Snow White Star Rachel Zegler Breaks Silence with Apology After Anti-Trump Post Sparks Backlash

Rachel Zegler, the rising star known for her roles in West Side Story and the upcoming live-action Snow White, has found herself at the center of a heated controversy. The 23-year-old actress issued an apology via her Instagram Story after her anti-Donald Trump post about the 2024 presidential election ignited a firestorm of backlash.

In her heartfelt statement, Zegler admitted she let her emotions take over. “Hatred and anger have caused us to move further and further away from peace and understanding,” she wrote, acknowledging that her post contributed to the negative discourse. “I am sorry I contributed to the negative discourse. This week has been emotional for so many of us, but I firmly believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion, even when it differs from my own.”

Zegler assured her followers she’s committed to fostering a positive environment moving forward. “I am committed to contributing positively toward a better tomorrow,” she concluded.

The controversy started after Zegler reacted to the unexpected news that President-elect Trump, 78, won over Vice President Kamala Harris. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Zegler expressed deep frustration, saying she wished Trump and his supporters would “never know peace.”

“Another four years of hatred, leaning us towards a world I do not want to live in. … I am heartbroken for my friends who awoke [in] fear this morning. And I am here with you. To cry, to yell, to hug. To wax poetic on how the left continues to fail us in forging a new path forward,” Zegler wrote, lamenting that the loss “should not have been” given the number of votes.

In a separate post, Zegler didn’t hold back, calling out Trump voters for their allegiance. “It is terrifying the number of people who stand behind what this man preaches,” she wrote, labeling their support as a “foolish subscription to a false sense of security, of masculinity, of intelligence, of patriotism, and of humanity.”

The backlash was swift, with media personalities like Megyn Kelly firing back. During a heated segment on her SiriusXM show, Kelly, 53, slammed Zegler’s comments and called her a “pig.” “Hello, Disney! You’re gonna have to redo your film again, because … you fired Gina Carano [from ‘The Mandalorian’] for far less than this nonsense,” Kelly said, referencing Carano’s 2021 exit after she likened being a Republican to being Jewish during Nazi Germany.

Despite the backlash, Zegler’s supporters have come out to defend her. One fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to write, “[She] needs someone to stand behind her at all times reminding her that yes she’s a sweetheart but it’s also okay to get angry and expressive.” Another supporter encouraged the actress not to “let [her] publicist silence [her].”

With emotions running high and opinions divided, it remains to be seen how this will impact Zegler’s career and her role in Disney’s upcoming projects. Will Disney stand by their Snow White star, or will the heat prove too much?