It’s been around four years since rising star Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) was cast as Disney’s first princess, Snow White, in the House of Mouse’s live-action remake of the 1937 classic movie. Since then, the “woke” vs “anti-woke” discourse has flared exponentially, with the debate surrounding not only Zegler’s casting, but also the portrayal of the dwarf characters, the inclusion of leadership and love, and how real-world politics infiltrated production.
Now, with Disney’s Snow White (2025) officially out in the world, audiences can finally experience this adaptation of Walt Disney’s industry-changing animated movie.
From the reimagining of the dwarf characters, spurred on by concerns raised by members of the dwarfism community–notably Game of Thrones alum, Peter Dinklage–to the narrative changes and comments from the cast, Disney’s Snow White has had a haphazard run.
Speaking candidly at the time, the Emmy-winning actor questioned the contrast between casting a Latina actress as Snow White while still “telling a ‘backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.’” Disney later responded to the controversy, telling ABC’s Good Morning America, “To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.”
Beyond casting, the adaptation has also made waves with changes to Snow White’s backstory. In a 2024 interview, Zegler explained, “The king and queen decided to name her Snow White to remind her of her resilience,” referencing her survival through a snowstorm as an infant. This updated origin marks a notable departure from the Grimm Brothers’ classic tale, where the character’s name symbolized her “skin as white as snow.”
The change was reinforced in an early international trailer, in which Zegler’s voiceover states, “To honor the day I was born, my father named me Snow White,” while showcasing scenes featuring Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen and the CGI dwarfs traversing the forest atop woodland creatures.
Zegler’s comments during the 2022 D23 Expo ignited backlash when she described the prince as a stalker and emphasized that Snow White’s journey would pivot from true love to leadership and strength. These remarks fueled online discourse that has remained heated well into 2025.
Adding to the scrutiny, Zegler’s outspoken activism has kept her in the spotlight; her publicized reaction to Donald Trump’s presidential victory over Kamala Harris while starring in Romeo + Juliet on Broadway sparked polarizing reactions among audiences. Gal Gadot’s role in the movie also drew backlash considering her IDF background amid the current Israel-Palestine conflict.
It’s safe to say that Snow White has been the catalyst for much debate about the so-called “wokeness” of The Walt Disney Company. And even with its casting of Zegler, and its shift away from Snow White’s desire for a prince (the classic “Someday My Prince Will Come” song is not featured in the live-action remake), Disney surprised by including the original Snow White‘s most controversial scene–at least when it comes to modern audiences.
**Spoilers ahead for Disney’s Snow White**
It might have been expected that the famous scene of Snow White being awoken from her poison apple-induced slumber by the prince’s kiss may not have been included in the 2025 live-action retelling. Surprisingly, director Marc Webb did include this scene, showing Andrew Burnap’s Jonathan (this movie’s “prince” character) kissing Zegler’s Snow at the corner of her lips while she lies unconscious.
While the “love’s first kiss” has been a classic scene for a long time in the fairytale canon, the prince’s action was later the center of discourse surrounding non-consensual sexual acts. Back in 2021, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, unveiled its revamped Snow White attraction–Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. Replacing Snow White’s Scary Adventures, the new take on the ride included the kissing scene from the end of the movie, and it didn’t go down well with some visitors.
“Theme park reviewers Katie Dowd and Julie Tremaine addressed the issue in an article on SFGate, writing that the kiss is one ‘he gives to her without her consent, while she’s asleep, which cannot possibly be true love if only one person knows it’s happening,’” Entertainment Weekly reported four years ago. “‘Haven’t we already agreed that consent in early Disney movies is a major issue? That teaching kids that kissing, when it hasn’t been established if both parties are willing to engage, is not okay?’”
However, while Jonathan does kiss Snow White it seems that it is consensual when taking into consideration the lyrics of the new duet dong, “A Hand Meets A Hand.” In the song, which is sung between Zegler’s Snow White and Burnap’s Jonathan, the pair declare: “And maybe I’m dreaming–well, I’d like to stay just like this / But if there’s a world where you wake me / Promise to wake me with a kiss.”
It is surprising that Disney included this scene regardless, especially considering the cultural firestorm that has surrounded the movie since its early inception. Many may have thought the director or writer Erin Cressida Wilson would have chosen another way to wake up Snow White, even with Pasek and Paul’s lyrics in “A Hand Meets A Hand.”
With a reported budget nearing $300 million and its negative response thus far, it seems that Disney’s latest live-action movie will fail to make a dent at the box office. Marketing efforts also appeared subdued compared to Disney’s usual blockbuster campaigns, especially given the packed release slate. The studio has already been promoting its upgraded theatrical debut for Lilo & Stitch (2025), which arrives in May.
Disney’s Snow White is out now. It features Rachel Zegler as Snow White, Emilia Faucher as Young Snow White, Olivia Verrall as Baby Snow White, Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen, Andrew Burnap as Jonathan, Patrick Page as the Magic Mirror, Ansu Kabia as the Huntsman, Andrew Barth Feldman as Dopey/Narrator, Tituss Burgess as Bashful, Martin Klebba as Grumpy, Jason Kravits as Sneezy, George Salazar as Happy, Jeremy Swift as Doc, Andy Grotelueschen as Sleepy, George Appleby as Quigg, Colin Carmichael as Farno, Dujonna Gift as Maple, Samuel Baxter as Scythe, Jimmy Johnston as Finch, Idriss Kargbo as Bingley, and Jaih Betote as Norwich.
Music for the film, which includes original songs like “Waiting on a Wish,” “All Is Fair,” and “Good Things Grow,” is by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, AKA Pasek and Paul.
How do you feel about the new live-action Snow White movie? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!
The post After Four Years of “Woke” Debate, Disney DOES Include Controversial Scene in Live-Action ‘Snow White’ appeared first on Inside the Magic.
