{"id":3287,"date":"2025-04-01T09:24:54","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T09:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/?p=3287"},"modified":"2025-04-03T18:18:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T18:18:56","slug":"the-snow-white-controversy-proves-we-need-to-ignore-nepo-babies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/the-snow-white-controversy-proves-we-need-to-ignore-nepo-babies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Snow White controversy proves we need to ignore nepo babies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I felt a renewed sense of bone-deep conviction that we let too many men be famous (Picture: Getty\/Metro.co.uk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rachel Zegler<\/a> is \u2018exceptionally beautiful\u2019 but a \u2018spoiled, ungrateful and disconnected brat.’<\/p>\n

When I woke up to headlines that John Lennon<\/a> and Yoko Ono\u2019s son, Sean Ono Lennon, had said the above about Rachel Zegler – as well as commented on her appearance – I felt a renewed sense of bone-deep conviction that we let too many men be famous.<\/p>\n

Your dad wrote Imagine so you get to give your unsolicited opinion on the hotness of women you\u2019ve never met? You may say that I\u2019m a dreamer, but I\u2019m not the only one absolutely sick of this s***. <\/p>\n

Lennon\u2019s social media remarks are just the latest in what has been a firestorm of controversy<\/a> surrounding Disney<\/a>\u2019s Snow White remake \u2013 and nepo babies have been right in the centre of the action.<\/p>\n

He joins another nepo baby<\/a>, Snow White producer Mark Platt\u2019s son, Jonah, in taking up too much space in this cultural conversation.<\/p>\n

After Zegler tweeted<\/a> \u2018always remember, free Palestine\u2019 in August last year, Variety reported that the producer of the film, Marc Platt, flew to New York to meet with Zegler in an attempt to get her to take the post down, which she allegedly refused. <\/p>\n

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Some fans felt unfairly blamed Zegler\u2019s views about President Donald Trump and Palestine for the poor performance (Picture: Disney Enterprises Inc)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, Jonah Platt wrote an emotional response to a commenter on social media in which he blamed Zegler for the film’s flop, claiming she insisted on ‘dragging her personal politics’ into promoting the movie.<\/p>\n

Things couldn’t possibly get messier, right? Wrong!<\/p>\n

Ariana DeBose, who starred in West Side Story with Zegler in 2021, posted a quote earlier this week that read, ‘Narcissism is not something to be coddled or encouraged,’ a direct excerpt from Platt’s fiery rant about Zegler. <\/p>\n

She later clarified that she did not intend it as criticism on Zegler: ‘I post quotes all the time and thought this one was meaningful. Will fully cop to the fact I did not do any research on where this quote came from, nor did I know of the connection until it was pointed out to me,’ DeBose wrote on her Instagram story Tuesday evening. <\/p>\n

‘I have no intention of inserting myself into a news cycle. This is not the first time I\u2019ve posted about dealing with narcissism and it probably won\u2019t be the last, but next time I\u2019ll be sure to clarify its origins first.’<\/p>\n

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To catch everyone up, Zegler, 23, stars as the titular princess in the new film, while <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/gal-gadot\/\">Gal Gadot<\/a> appears as the Evil Queen. But despite high hopes, Snow White had a <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/20\/disneys-snow-white-remake-debuts-poisonous-low-rating-rotten-tomatoes-22758398\/\">dismal start at the box office<\/a>, amassing just $45million (\u00a334.8m) in the US and $100m (\u00a377.3m) worldwide in its opening weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Then, Variety released a piece that some fans felt unfairly blamed Zegler\u2019s views about President Donald Trump and Palestine for the poor performance.<\/p>\n<p>Not long after, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/11\/22\/john-lennons-son-reveals-heartbreaking-reality-growing-without-father-22048862\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2024\/11\/22\/john-lennons-son-reveals-heartbreaking-reality-growing-without-father-22048862\/\">Sean Ono Lennon<\/a> chimed in with his two cents. In a now-deleted tweet, Lennon, 48, whose bio reads: \u2018Mega Nepo Baby\u2019 wrote: ‘Both Gal Gadot AND Rachel Zegler are exceptionally beautiful women. Some of y’all are bugging.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22827251 lazyload\" alt=\"2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Arrivals\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2077026454.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>It’s bitterly funny for a man born into the kind of wealth and privilege Lennon (pictured) was to call someone else \u2018disconnected\u2019\u00a0(Picture: Lionel Hahn\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>An X user replied to Lennon defending Zegler, as they said: ‘Both actresses are good performers, yet Zegler does not deserve the vilification that Variety and a lot of Disney “fan boys” are constantly giving her.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Then Lennon added: ‘I agree the vilification went too far. But she also acts like a spoiled, ungrateful and disconnected brat. So it’s no surprise.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Not only is there nothing more grating than a man snidely explaining, \u2018Sorry, how women look actually <em>does<\/em> matter!\u2019 but it’s bitterly funny for a man born into the kind of wealth and privilege Lennon was to call someone else \u2018disconnected.\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>So <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/28\/petition-launched-defend-rachel-zegler-snow-white-controversy-gathers-steam-22809941\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/28\/petition-launched-defend-rachel-zegler-snow-white-controversy-gathers-steam-22809941\/\">how did Jonah Platt<\/a> get involved? <\/p>\n<p>In the aftermath of Variety’s report, a social media commenter posted on Platt\u2019s Instagram saying : \u2018Your dad flew to NYC to reprimand a young actress about this? Any words on this? Cuz that\u2019s creepy as hell and uncalled for. People have the right to free speech, no? Shame on your father.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Jonah penned a whiny response, which he later deleted, but according to The Hollywood Reporter it read: \u2018Yeah, my dad, the producer of enormous piece of Disney IP with hundreds of millions of dollars on the line, had to leave his family to fly across the country to reprimand his 20 year old employee for dragging her personal politics into the middle of promoting the movie for which she signed a multi-million dollar contract to get paid and do publicity for.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22734552 lazyload\" alt=\"Cast member Rachel Zegler attends a premiere for the film "Snow White", in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 15, 2025. REUTERS\/Mario Anzuoni\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SEI_244017434-fb40.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Zegler (pictured) tweeted \u2018always remember, free Palestine\u2019 in August last year (Picture: REUTERS\/Mario Anzuoni)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He added: \u2018This is called adult responsibility and accountability. And her actions clearly hurt the film\u2019s box office.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Between Lennon and Platt, one has to wonder why these men are qualified to share their opinions at all. <\/p>\n<p>Lennon\u2019s X post has hundreds of interactions and is being widely discussed online, while Platt\u2019s statement has been published in nearly every major publication.<\/p>\n<p>And make no mistake, what Platt so condescendingly called shirking \u2018adult responsibility\u2019 and Lennon labelled acting like a \u2018spoiled brat\u2019 is free speech, plain and simple. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22827323 lazyload\" alt=\""Cindy & The Disco Ball: The Musical" Influencer Event\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-1431289549.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>What Platt implied in his post is that Zegler should take the money she was given to play Snow White (Picture: Paul Archuleta\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Platt is correct that \u2018free speech does not mean you\u2019re allowed to say whatever you want\u2019 without \u2018repercussions.’ Still, it looks to me like a mega-corporation attempting to shut down an actress\u2019s ability to advocate for causes she believes in.<\/p>\n<p>What Platt implied in his post is that Zegler should take the money she was given to play Snow White and keep her mouth shut to avoid putting Disney\u2019s investment in jeopardy. <\/p>\n<p>Lennon seems to feel similarly, acting as though it’s somehow \u2018ungrateful\u2019 for Zegler to use her platform to express her politics. <\/p>\n<p>Neither Lennon nor Platt mentioned that Zegler has weathered her share of ugliness, with controversy surrounding the film beginning nearly four years ago when the actress, who is of Colombian descent, faced racist backlash after she was <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/14\/rachel-zegler-praised-swift-response-ignorant-snow-white-casting-comment-22731761\/\">cast as Disney\u2019s original princess<\/a>, most famous for having \u2018skin as white as snow.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22765317 lazyload\" alt=\"Rachel Zegler plays Snow White in Disney's remake of "Snow White," which will be released in 2025. Owner MOL Published Images Properties rgb, JPEG, 8.2M (69.3M), 6561w x 3691h, 72 x 72 dpi Provider Walt Disney Studios\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SEI_244430201-4d58.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Zegler, who is of Colombian descent, faced racist backlash after she was cast as Disney\u2019s original princess (Picture: Walt Disney Studios)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section class=\"metro-comment-cta\">\n<div class=\"metro-comment-cta__inner\"><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text-wrap\"><title>Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Do you think Snow White flopped because of Rachel Zegler? Have your say in the comments<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>But this didn\u2019t receive as much of the blame for the film\u2019s failure as Zegler\u2019s refusal to just shut up and look pretty, as it seems men like Platt and Lennon would prefer she do.  <\/p>\n<p>As I prepared to write a piece about this pair of Daddy\u2019s boys and their bad online takes, I couldn\u2019t help but feel hesitant to further platform their opinions. <\/p>\n<p>They have a right, as much as Zegler, to share their views on anything they see fit. But the only reason we even know about them is their famous and powerful parents.<\/p>\n<p>What makes a culture interesting is diversity: Diversity of lived experience, diversity of opinion, and diversity of intersectional identity. <\/p>\n<p>If nepo babies like Lennon and Platt think Rachel Zegler \u2013 an accomplished artist who has every right to use her platform as she sees fit \u2013 doesn\u2019t deserve the influence she has, how can they possibly justify their own loud voices? <\/p>\n<p>Maybe it’s time we let the nepo babies shout into the void until they can prove they have something valuable to say. Unfortunately, that day is not today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk\">James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I felt a renewed sense of bone-deep conviction that we let too many men be famous (Picture: Getty\/Metro.co.uk) Rachel Zegler is \u2018exceptionally beautiful\u2019 but a \u2018spoiled, ungrateful and disconnected brat.’ When I woke up to headlines that John Lennon and Yoko Ono\u2019s son, Sean Ono Lennon, had said the above about Rachel Zegler – as well as commented on her appearance – I felt a renewed sense of bone-deep conviction that we let too many men be famous. Your dad … <a href=\"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/01\/the-snow-white-controversy-proves-we-need-to-ignore-nepo-babies\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> “The Snow White controversy proves we need to ignore nepo babies”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3287"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3287"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3294,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3287\/revisions\/3294"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.isshicare.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}