Pedro Pascal Receives Backlash for Standing by Rachel Zegler Amid ‘Snow White’ Controversy

Receiving backlash online, Pedro Pascal is under fire for showing support for Rachel Zegler. Zegler has been facing intense criticism following the lackluster performance of Disney’s live-action “Snow White” remake.

Despite not having collaborated before, Pascal, known for his role in “The Last of Us,” commended Zegler’s award-winning portrayal of Maria in “West Side Story.” He even admitted to being moved to tears by her performance in 2022.

Rachel Zegler has also publicly celebrated Pedro Pascal, once calling him “love personified.”

Recently, to mark his upcoming 50th birthday, Pascal shared a picture of Zegler on his Instagram Stories, along with the caption “@rachelzegler #icon.” However, this gesture was met with immediate disapproval online. Many users were quick to draw connections between the actors’ Disney affiliations and perceived insensitivity in Pascal’s endorsement.

Marc Webb’s updated take on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” which stars Zegler as the titular princess, has struggled at the global box office, earning just $143.1 million against a reported $350 million production and marketing budget.

The film also received a dismal 41% approval from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an even more brutal 1.6/10 rating on IMDb, despite a modest 74% audience score.

Users on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, were quick to respond.

“They both work for Disney. They both receive money from Disney,” one user pointed out, questioning Pascal’s motives.

Others accused him of being out of touch, with one commenter writing, “Icon? No, how bout ‘fired,’ how bout ‘blacklisted,’ how bout failure.”

Some also speculated that Pascal’s outspoken support could hurt his future projects, including his highly anticipated role in Marvel’s “Fantastic Four.” “Pedro’s mouth is gonna tank the Fantastic Four,” one user posted.

Pascal was also criticized for the contrast between his current support of Zegler and his lack of public backing for his “The Mandalorian” co-star Gina Carano.

“Where was his support for @ginacarano?” one user asked, while another wrote, “Remember when he threw Gina Carano under the bus.”

Zegler has remained a polarizing figure since being cast as Snow White, facing criticism for both her outspoken views and controversial comments about the original 1937 animated film. She previously called the original “extremely dated” and slammed the portrayal of romance in it as “weird.”

Her comments, and refusal to walk back other politically charged statements, including a pro-Palestinian tweet and harsh criticism of Donald Trump supporters, have kept her under a social media microscope.

Despite the fallout, Zegler is moving forward. She will star as Eva Perón in the West End production of “Evita,” opening June 14 at the London Palladium.

Pascal, meanwhile, is returning to HBO’s “The Last of Us” as Joel Miller when the second season premieres on April 13. The show’s first season was a critical and ratings hit for Max, further cementing Pascal’s status as a leading man.

“Jennifer and I are very good friends,” he told Entertainment Tonight at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Last of Us” Season 2. “And I got to have dinner [with her] on Saturday, and it was a fun martini dinner.”

Known for his charming, self-deprecating humor, Pascal attributed the frenzy to Aniston’s iconic stature. “That’s her starlight,” he quipped. “I’m just basking in it!”

In a separate chat with E! News, Pascal reiterated that the evening was simply a friendly outing with mutual acquaintances. “It happens,” he said with a shrug, brushing off the dating chatter.

But amid the whirlwind of personal headlines, Pascal is staying laser-focused on the highly anticipated second season of “The Last of Us,” which premieres April 13 on HBO and streams on Max. Teaming up once again with co-star Bella Ramsey, Pascal teased an emotional new arc for his character, Joel.

“You get to see like a single tear fall from one of my eyes down my cheek, maybe a little bit of mucus,” he joked. “I think Joel has reading glasses this season. So, there are some serious moves that are coming your way.”

The sophomore season is expected to delve deeper into Joel’s psyche, further developing the emotional complexities that made the character a breakout fan favorite.