Our Princesses Need More Care. How Disney has failed women of color. Analyzing the Black & Women of Color featured in Disney’s Live Action Remakes.

Our Princesses Need More Care

How Disney has failed women of color. Analyzing the Black & Women of Color featured in Disney’s Live Action Remakes. 

March 27th, 2025

Rachel Zegler stars in the latest Disney live-action adaptation, Snow White (2025). Premiering later this month. The movie is met with much dismay.  It is another (* unneeded*)  remake of a Disney classic. It joins the club of reboots and live-action adaptations. This remake sparked negative press before the movie came out this year. Years in the making, since pre-production in early 2022. The casting is another color blind casting choice. Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent. She proudly embraces her Hispanic/Latin culture. There was a side of the internet that did not believe it was an accurate portrayal of the Princess to have Zegler play. The r@$!t side of the internet and the incels did not let this go. Criticism over not having an actress who looks like Snow White and the fairy tale quote “ Her skin as white as snow” . 

I think you all get where I’m going with this.. This was the first instance of hate towards Zegler. In addition, throughout the filming, more negative stories came out. With the Seven Dwarfs being reimagined and not featuring people with dwarism.I really think they should have included more people with dwarism. It really would have given the actors with the condition major film work. Where to even begin with Gal Gadot. Not fit for the role and allegedly disliked by her co-star Zegler. 

With this being said. Does this remind anyone of what happened to Halle Bailey. Yes our Ariel! Back in 2023, Halle starred in the live-action version of The Little Mermaid(2023) as Ariel. 

I remember when it was announced she was casted in the role since it was another color blind casting. Controversy and hate comments gear towards Halle started to float in. Some fans simply did not see her as the Princess. 

First of all mermaids do not exist. Although I am not shocked but I am just taken aback on how people were genuinely wanting her to be recast. The things I have seen against her casting and portrayal were so frustrating and disheartening I have seen disgusting images of mocking her..For us Black women, we know how it feels when this hate is against us. 

As young black girls, we all know the feeling of not being represented in TV and Film. The few pieces of media that showcase black women. 

It was a breath of fresh air to see a character wear her locs/ box braids and beautiful melanin for the world to see. To see toys and other merchandise in the likeness of Halle Bailey’s version of Ariel. It was an absolute joy to see. I could only imagine how little black girls saw a version of themselves in Halle. I know I would have loved gifting my daughter loads of Little Mermaid merchandise. 

With this being said, the 2023 version did fairly well at the box office, with 569.6 million worldwide at the Box Office against a 240 Mil. Budget. The press for The Little Mermaid was adequate, unlike Snow White. Right before the North American release of Snow White. Disney reduced its press and media outlets. 

Halle and Rachel are both women of color. These two have very similar experiences with their time as Disney Princesses. No doubt, Rachel had it much harder. In the heightened political climate we are currently living in, the United States.  Zegler also received backlash for supporting a pro-Palestinian side and strong dislike of Trump. These amazing actresses do not deserve the hate. 

Within the past 5 years there has been tons of hate between the two actresses. Disney has not done enough to combat the strong criticism. Yes, I know these are adults, and they can defend themselves. Disney I am sure have seen everything negative about their lead actresses. I think color blind casting is great. It gives more recognition to under represented Black and women of color actresses.   You can’t control how the public reacts. What Disney can do is give them better press runs.