Disney Fans Split After Reason for Evil Queen Performer’s Firing Is Revealed
New details have clarified why Disneyland Resort dismissed longtime Evil Queen performer Sabrina Von Bogenberg, whose sharply comedic portrayal became widely popular on social media.
The explanation comes roughly a month after Von Bogenberg confirmed her departure, which followed eight years with the company and generated significant speculation among Disney park fans.
Von Bogenberg’s Evil Queen regularly drew large crowds, with guests recording interactions that later circulated on TikTok and X. Her delivery stood out for its biting humor and confidence, helping to elevate the character’s visibility well beyond traditional meet-and-greets.
Disney did not publicly comment at the time of her dismissal, leaving fans to speculate about whether her online popularity played a role.
Her recent remarks now place the focus on a single interaction rather than a broader pattern of conduct.
The Comment That Led to Termination
In an interview with NewsNation, Von Bogenberg said her dismissal stemmed from one video recorded during a guest interaction.
@newsnationnow @sabrinavonb was shown the door after playing the classic from “Snow White” for nearly a decade at Disneyland. “Ultimately, that was a rule broken, according to The Rat,” she tells @natashazouves.
“A video of me not really disclosing anything but saying if guests want to see the Evil Queen around, go tell City Hall, and make your voices known,” she said. “Ultimately, that was a rule broken, according to the rat.”
City Hall is a guest services location at Disneyland Resort where visitors can file feedback or complaints.
It seems like the statement was interpreted internally as urging guests to pressure the company regarding character appearances.
Disney tightly controls when and where characters appear, with decisions handled by entertainment leadership based on operational needs, crowd management, and brand considerations. Performers are expected to avoid any implication that those processes are flexible or guest-driven.
Shortly after the video circulated online, Von Bogenberg’s employment ended. The company did not issue a public explanation, and the character portrayal was reassigned.
Despite the termination, Von Bogenberg expressed appreciation for her time with The Walt Disney Company.
“I’m just very grateful that people love and find an ‘evil’ character funny. … The most rewarding part is just getting to make people love a character that they don’t conventionally love,” she said.
Her comments suggest the decision was based on policy enforcement rather than performance quality or audience response.
Social Media Visibility and Performer Limits
In a separate interview with PEOPLE, Von Bogenberg previously discussed the challenges of increased recognition.
Internally, she remained subject to the same anonymity expectations as other Disney character actors. That disconnect intensified as her videos accumulated millions of views.
Disney has encountered similar situations in the past, when individual performers portraying popular characters attracted sustained attention. In multiple cases, increased visibility conflicted with the company’s emphasis on consistency and anonymity.
Reaction to Von Bogenberg’s explanation has been mixed. Some fans argued the outcome was predictable given Disney’s strict guidelines.
“She literally did this to herself sadly enough,” one X user wrote. “YES, if social media wasn’t a thing the masses wouldn’t have known & it probabaly wouldn’t have gotten to upper management but she was bitter & acted out by requesting the people go to city hall.”
they fumbled this talented diva. she needs her own disney show!
they fumbled this talented diva. she needs her own disney show! pic.twitter.com/w0wSUtAIyj
— َ (@pinksview) February 10, 2026
Others questioned how a longtime performer could misjudge the situation.
“I used to love her and all but after working so many years for Disney you’re telling me she couldn’t figure out on her own that her comment was a bad idea? As soon as it appeared on my FYP I was like, ‘Is she allowed to do that?'”
Some users defended her, pointing to the difficulty of maintaining boundaries during unscripted guest conversations.
“What is she supposed to say though when guests ask her those kinds of questions?” another user wrote. “I’d think it’s not always easy to divert a conversation when you’re in character.”
