Rachel Zegler stays certainly one of Hollywood’s up-and-coming stars however, on the identical time, she’s acquired plenty of backlash. The previous few years have seen Zegler draw into numerous controversies, a few of which concerned initiatives she participated in. Chief amongst them was the Snow White state of affairs, which noticed social media customers chastise Zegler for feedback she made concerning the Disney princess. Now, certainly one of Zegler’s Evita co-stars is talking out on her behalf and isn’t holding again concerning the dangerous press she receives.
This summer time marked Rachel Zegler’s West Finish debut, throughout which she performed political chief and activist Eva Perón in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita. Amongst Zegler’s co-stars is James Olivas, who performs the position of Juan Perón. Olivas mentioned this newest revival of the acclaimed musical throughout an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. When discussing Zegler, Olivas had nothing however reward for her, and he additionally spoke out in opposition to those that criticize his scene accomplice:
I feel Rachel turned very infamous previous to the present. In very comparable methods to Eva Perón, she was beloved and hated. Previous to coming to London, my understanding of her was that she was being dogpiled on a little bit bit by the media… I did some precise analysis, like, ‘What is that this scandal? What are the large controversies?’ and located that there’s nothing of advantage. It’s folks simply selecting to be offended at her as a result of she is a girl of colour, and she or he is younger, a simple goal.
In the case of the West Finish Present, the Shazam! Fury of the Gods alum has been critiqued attributable to one key second within the manufacturing. Mentioned section sees the main woman, whereas in character as Eva, go away the stage and carry out “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” from the balcony of the London Palladium for these exterior the constructing. When that occurs, theater attendees are handled to a livestream of that efficiency. Many have taken challenge with having paid to see the play just for that specific tune to not be carried out on stage.
James Olivas appears to be of the opinion that a lot of that backlash is disingenuous. Afterward in his dialogue with THR, he referred to all of it as “such manufactured outrage.” Olivas went on to explain the reactions that he’s personally heard in regard to his co-star taking to the balcony to sing stay for the residents of London:
[They say], ‘How might Rachel Zegler do that to paying prospects? It was this recreation of phone that was by no means rooted in fact — there’s not been a single individual that has come to see the present that has something lower than beloved what that second is within the theater and the way it reads exterior.
Mentioned balcony brouhaha was preceded by the aforementioned Snow White controversy. That started in earnest in 2023, at which level feedback that Rachel Zegler made about Snow White at 2022’s D23 Expo resurfaced. Zegler acknowledged that her iteration of the princess would have extra company and complexity than her animated 1937 counterpart. Followers took offense, with that backlash coming after many criticized the choice to solid Zegler (who’s of Latin descent) as “The Fairest of Them All.” James Olivas had this to say about it:
Even in her press run for Snow White, [people were] saying, ‘Rachel Zegler hates conventional Snow White, so she modified it, and she or he doesn’t need a prince!’ I feel it speaks to folks’s ignorance… Do you suppose that she’s the author? Do you suppose she’s the director? She’s an actor, she was given strains, she was given a job. And identical factor on this manufacturing.
Rachel Zegler herself has additionally addressed the flak she’s taken for not solely her feedback about her Disney character however her political opinions as effectively. So far as her tackle world points go, Zegler finds it “alarming” at instances, although she believes she has a platform to talk out on such subjects. The West Aspect Story breakout additionally acquired candid about having a dialog along with her psychiatrist concerning the hate she’s acquired.
Snow White was a field workplace bomb, but Rachel Zegler’s profession has continued to thrive. In June, Snow not solely trended excessive amid its Disney+ debut, however this newest manufacturing of Evita additionally raked in a substantial amount of money on the West Finish. Additionally, Zegler is working with Oscar winner Marisa Tomei in an upcoming dramedy movie, She Will get It From Me, which can see them play mom and daughter. As Zegler’s critics proceed to share ideas and her profession continues, it appears she will say James Olivas is in her nook.