Danica Patrick Critiques Rachel Zegler Following Snow White’s Disappointing Box Office Performance

Danica Patrick provided a quick yet impactful response to the lackluster box office performance of the live-action Snow White remake.

The 43-year-old former racing driver shared a video on her Instagram Story on Sunday, March 30, that criticized both the film and the performance of star Rachel Zegler. In her post’s caption, Patrick appeared to take a jab at the actress, writing, “Bye bye.” (Us Weekly has reached out to the representatives of both Patrick and Zegler for comments.)

Zegler, 23, portrays Disney’s original princess in the live-action version, which premiered in theaters on March 21. Per the Associated Press, the film, directed by Mark Webb, saw a 66 percent drop in its second weekend, raking in $143.1 million globally against a reported production budget of $250 million. Although it debuted at No. 1, the Jason Statham thriller A Working Man swiftly snatched the top box office position.

Snow White is the latest addition to Disney’s series of live-action adaptations of its beloved animated features. Some previous adaptations, like 2017’s Beauty and the Beast, 2019’s The Lion King, and 2019’s Aladdin, have grossed over $1 billion during their theatrical runs.

The film has faced its fair share of controversy. Zegler has encountered racist backlash regarding her casting as the princess, traditionally depicted as a white character in the 1937 animation Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Actor Peter Dinklage raised concerns about how the film represents dwarfism as early as January 2022. Additionally, the son of the original film’s director, David Hand, criticized the remake as being “woke” and “insulting” in an interview with The Telegraph in August 2023.

In a September 2022 interview with Variety, Zegler garnered attention for discussing the differences between the live-action version and the animated classic. “It’s no longer 1937, and we absolutely wrote a Snow White that’s not gonna be saved by the prince, and she’s not gonna be dreaming about true love,” she explained. “She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be—just like her late father encouraged her to be if she’s fearless, fair, brave, and true. It’s a truly remarkable story for young people to see themselves in.”

Earlier in the year, Zegler shared with Vogue Mexico that she views the criticism of the film as a form of “passion” from its audience, stating, “What an honor to be a part of something that people feel so passionately about. We’re not always going to agree with everyone around us, and all we can do is our best.”

Zegler walked the red carpet alongside her co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, at the film’s Los Angeles premiere earlier this month. However, fans noted that Zegler left Gadot, 39, out of an Instagram tribute she made for the film’s cast and crew on March 20, amid speculation of a feud between the two actresses that has yet to be publicly addressed.

“This movie was a life-changing experience that has encompassed about four years of my career,” Zegler captioned behind-the-scenes photos and videos. “The growing I did from the age of twenty (when I was cast) to twenty-three (my current age) is something that cannot be accurately expressed, yet it is captured on film forever.”

She continued, “We had the absolute best crew for this film, which cannot be overstated. This photo dump doesn’t even begin to cover the fun, the magic, and the love that filled this journey. But it’s a start. ‘Snow White’ is now in theaters. It’s a significant piece of my heart, and now it’s yours. I hope you enjoy and feel the magic we were fortunate enough to experience every day. And remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.”