“Nonsensical discourse about my casting”: Snow White Star Rachel Zegler Thanks Fans Defending Her from Racists
American actor and songstress, Rachel Zegler is known for playing Maria in Steven Spielberg’s musical adaptation of West Side Story. Her acting in this musical won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. At 16 years, she was chosen from over 30,000 applicants that had applied for the role of Maria by responding to Steven Spielberg’s open casting call on Twitter.
Zegler has starred as princesses in several musicals, namely, Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Shrek: The Musical. So, it was high time that Disney cast her as a princess in one of its live-action remakes. This remake happens to be of Snow White.
Read More: “Stop with the remakes”: Snow White Live Action Remake Reveals Trailer Sneak Peek, Fans Enraged
Rachel Zegler Has Been Disappointed Before
Rachel Zegler is not only the first actress of Colombian descent to have won the Golden Globe award for West Side Story but also the youngest winner in this category at just 20 years old. Although it was the studios’ responsibility to do so, she was not invited to attend the Academy Awards 2022 to support her colleagues from the movie.
The actress took to Instagram to express her disappointment about it. She wrote:
I have tried it all but it doesn’t seem to be happening … I will root for West Side Story from my couch and be proud of the work we so tirelessly did 3 years ago. I hope some last minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate with our film in person.
Thankfully, this caught the attention of American actor and dancer Russ Tamblyn who is the original actor of the West Side Story film and also a voting member of the Academy. In response to the post, Tamblyn wrote that it was the Academy’s responsibility to get a seat for Zegler as representation matters. The very next day the Academy invited the actress to present the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects alongside Jacob Elordi.
Rachel Zegler Faced Backlash Over Her Casting as Snow White
Recently, set photos of Snow White‘s reimagined seven companions were released. The companions are of different genders, ethnicities, and varying sizes. This has led to yet a slew of hate comments on social media for the remake of the movie. This isn’t the first time one of Disney’s remakes has led to the bashing of the lead actress or the people involved.
The endless discourse led to Zegler tweeting to thank the fans for speaking up in her defense and requesting to refrain from tagging her in the “nonsensical discourse” about her recasting.
extremely appreciative of the love i feel from those defending me online, but please don’t tag me in the nonsensical discourse about my casting.
i really, truly do not want to see it.
so i leave you w these photos! i hope every child knows they can be a princess no matter what pic.twitter.com/AU5PjJutK5
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) July 15, 2023
History seems to be repeating itself. Again and again. It began with Rachel Zegler facing backlash because netizens online were not very supportive of the Latina reincarnation of the Disney princess Snow White. In an interview, she said that she was aware of all the hate she was getting but she has always been more focused on the silver lining as she expressed her excitement over playing a Latina princess.
Source: CBR
