At the NBCUniversal Upfront event in New York City, Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, made a memorable entrance by poking fun at Disney’s much-maligned Snow White remake.
The film, which stars Gal Gadot and Rachel Zegler, has been a subject of ridicule since its release in March, facing a stream of negative reviews and criticism.
MacFarlane’s jabs at the film added another layer of humiliation to its already rocky journey.
MacFarlane’s Bold Move at the Upfront Event
The event at Radio City Music Hall was meant to showcase NBCUniversal’s lineup, but MacFarlane decided to spice things up with a bit of humor.
While addressing the audience, he took the opportunity to mock Snow White, particularly its controversial use of CGI-created dwarves.
Breaking into song, he quipped, “But you’ll feel fright when you see Snow White ‘cuz the dwarves look really f***ing weird.”
His unexpected diss was met with laughs, highlighting how the film’s controversial choices are continuing to fuel public discussion.
The CGI Dwarves Controversy
One of the most talked-about aspects of Snow White is its decision to replace the traditional dwarves with computer-generated “magical creatures.”
This move angered both fans and actors with dwarfism, who felt it was an unnecessary and discriminatory step.
John Ferguson, a content creator with dwarfism, expressed his outrage by protesting outside a movie theater.
Dressed as one of the dwarfs, he held a sign that read, “Hire real dwarfs.”
Ferguson criticized Disney for bypassing opportunities to hire actors with dwarfism, calling the decision absurd.
The Critical Reception of the Film
The remake, which reimagines Disney’s 1937 animated classic, has been widely panned by critics.
Daily Mail’s Brian Viner gave it just two out of five stars, describing it as a “painfully muddle-headed affair.”
While he acknowledged that Zegler had plenty of talent, he criticized the movie for being a dull reimagining that tried too hard not to offend anyone, yet managed to do just that.
Meanwhile, The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw was even harsher, giving the film one star and calling it a “pointless” and “exhaustingly awful reboot.”
Other reviews echoed similar sentiments. The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey criticized the film for its corporate approach to handling the controversial dwarf depiction.
The studio’s attempt to modernize the classic tale was met with a collective eye-roll from those who had hoped for a more faithful and enjoyable remake.
Pre-Release Controversy and Casting Issues
Even before the film hit theaters, Snow White was already surrounded by controversy.
The decision to cast Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, as Snow White drew criticism because the original fairytale described the princess’s skin as “as white as snow.”
Zegler defended the casting choice, stating that the character’s backstory had been altered, and she was now named Snow White after surviving a snowstorm as a child.
Her comments about the original animated film, calling it “dated,” further fueled backlash, though she later backtracked, assuring fans that the romance would remain central to the remake.
This snowball of controversies has left Snow White struggling to find its footing, both critically and with the audience.
Despite its ambitious attempt to modernize the classic tale, the film continues to be met with disdain from many who feel it lost the magic of the original.