Sabrina Von Bogenberg’s dismissal from Disneyland Resort followed years of work portraying the Evil Queen, a character whose interactions with guests increasingly circulated on social media. Her departure after eight years prompted questions among fans, particularly as no public explanation was offered at the time.
Videos of Von Bogenberg’s Evil Queen regularly appeared on TikTok and X, drawing attention for their sharp delivery and in-character humor. Guests often sought out the character specifically, recording interactions that were later shared widely online.
That visibility developed as Disney continued to enforce strict guidelines governing character performances. While improvisation is permitted, performers are prohibited from referencing internal operations, guest services processes, or management decisions during interactions.
Recorded guest encounters now routinely extend beyond the parks, increasing scrutiny on moments that were once fleeting. For Disney, those recordings carry reputational and operational implications, particularly when character dialogue is interpreted as company messaging.
Von Bogenberg was dismissed in 2024, with no immediate clarification from Disney. Recent comments from the performer have since provided insight into the company’s reasoning.
The Interaction That Prompted Disney’s Decision
In an interview with NewsNation, Von Bogenberg said her firing stemmed from a single video recorded during a guest interaction at Disneyland Resort.
@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 serves as Disneyland’s guest relations location, where complaints and cast compliments alike are formally submitted.
The video emerged during a period when Disney was rumored to be considering axing its villain characters during the non-Halloween period.
According to Von Bogenberg, the comment was interpreted internally as encouraging guests to pressure Disney regarding character appearances. She said she did not reference internal decisions, contracts, or scheduling details.
Disney maintains centralized control over character availability. Appearances are determined by entertainment leadership based on crowd management, seasonal programming, and brand considerations rather than direct guest requests.
Shortly after the video circulated online, Von Bogenberg’s employment ended. Disney did not issue a public statement explaining the decision.
Despite the dismissal, 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 termination was related to policy enforcement rather than the popularity of her performance.
Social Media Exposure and Performer Boundaries
In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Von Bogenberg discussed the challenges of becoming recognizable while remaining officially anonymous. Guests speculated about her identity and tracked appearances, treating the character as linked to a specific performer.
Internally, Disney requires character performers to remain interchangeable. Individual recognition can conflict with that structure, particularly as online audiences associate characters with specific portrayals.
they fumbled this talented diva. she needs her own disney show! pic.twitter.com/w0wSUtAIyj
— َ (@pinksview) February 10, 2026
Disney has encountered similar situations in the past, when performers gained attention beyond intended boundaries. Increased visibility can complicate the company’s emphasis on consistency and anonymity.
Fan response to Von Bogenberg’s explanation has been mixed. Some commenters said the outcome aligned with Disney’s long-standing policies.
“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.”
Others questioned how a longtime performer could misjudge the impact of the remark.
“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?'”
Share your thoughts on this story in the comments!
