Rachel Zegler performing at Elsie Fest is enough for true fans to recognize her abilities despite the backlash for Snow White.

Rachel Zegler

Rachel Zegler is receiving all the heat for her upcoming film, Snow White. The film cast Zegler, of Latina descent, as the titular character, which was a move welcomed by many. However, Zegler bashing Disney’s original fairy tale hasn’t helped the film a bit. Amidst the controversy, The Hunger Games actress’ performance at Elsie Fest in New York City is receiving appreciation.

Rachel Zegler in a still from Steven Spielberg's West Side StoryRachel Zegler in a still from Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story | Credits: 20th Century Studios

Fans on social media agreed that Zegler’s musical theater experience made her an incredible performer and that they couldn’t take their eyes off her during her performance. The new appreciation might finally take the edge off the backlash against her following her Snow White comments.

Rachel Zegler’s Eye-Catching Performance Wins Over Fans On Social Media

Rachel Zegler in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & SnakesRachel Zegler in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | Credits: Lionsgate

Ahead of her Broadway debut, Rachel Zegler gave a stunning performance at the 7th Annual Elsie Fest held at The Rooftop in New York City. Zegler oozed confidence as she performed Sutton Foster’s song Gimme Gimme on the stage for a bunch of concert-goers. A video of the event was officially posted by Broadway.com, who are selling the tickets for Zegler’s Broadway debut later this month.

Zegler is set to appear as Juliet in the musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s epic work, Romeo + Juliet, directed by Sam Gold. A fan shared a clip of the performance on social media and fans were impressed with the young actress. It comes as a sigh of relief for the Shazam! actress after she received backlash for her comments on Snow White.

Fans shared that Zegler was an incredible performer with a lethal combination of singing and acting skills. The Y2K actress had musical theatre experience as she earlier played Belle in the stage musical Beauty and the Beast, Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, and Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical.

She debuted in films in Steven Spielberg’s musical film, West Side Story. Fans appreciated her stage presence, commenting on her face, voice, and hair. One fan wondered at how so much talent was packed into a “sleek, compact parcel.” Some of the fan reactions read:

Fans await to see her Broadway debut much more than her upcoming film Snow White. The film seems already doomed after the controversy surrounding the seven dwarfs. And Zegler’s comments haven’t helped the promotion of the Disney film a bit.

Rachel Zegler’s Snow White Comments Quickly Turned The Internet Against Her

Rachel Zegler plays the titular role in the upcoming Snow White film | Walt Disney PicturesRachel Zegler plays the titular role in the upcoming Snow White film | Credits: Walt Disney Pictures

Rachel Zegler had made it clear that she was not a fan of the original Disney animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She shared her thoughts on some of the outdated gender norms in the classic film, sharing that the new movie will bring some progressive updates on those themes. Fans were not at all impressed with her take on the original film. Zegler shared with Variety:

I just mean that it’s no longer 1937. We absolutely wrote a Snow White that… she’s not going to be saved by the prince, and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love; she’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.

Besides challenging the original film’s outdated notions, she even went on to call the prince a stalker. Her remarks came off as being dismissive of the classic film, which was Disney’s first animated theatrical film. Fans accused her of shaming the people who found the original film to be amazing.

Things are not looking good for Zegler’s film despite having some big names attached to it. Marc Webb of The Amazing Spider-Man fame is directing the film on a script written by Barbie director Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson. Wonder Woman Gal Gadot plays the role of the Evil Queen in the film.

Snow White will hit theaters on March 21, 2025.