“I’m Disappointed Too”: Rachel Zegler Responds to Oscars Snub

Actress and singer Rachel Zegler has become a household name in recent months partly for her role as the lead heroine Maria in the new Steven Speilberg adaption of West Side Story and partly for her role as Disney’s newest Snow White Disney princess. However, despite the actress’s quick rise to fame and her popularity with audiences, fans were dismayed to learn that the actress has actually not been invited to this year’s 94th Academy Awards — even though her movie is nominated for seven awards from the Academy!

West Side Story star Rachel Zegler revealed that she was not invited to the Oscars on Instagram; when asked what she would wear on the Oscars red carpet, the actress and singer said the following: “I’m not invited, so sweatpants and my boyfriend’s flannel”.

“IDK y’all I have tried it all but it doesn’t seem to be happening,” she added in an Instagram comment. “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 our film in person but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess. thanks for all the shock and outrage — I’m disappointed, too. but that’s OK. So proud of our movie.”

However, according to Deadline, it’s often the studios that choose the invitees, not necessarily the Academy. So, for some reason, it seems that Disney itself may not have wanted the new Snow White to attend the Oscars!

Rachel’s next film appearance will be in the DC movie Shazam! Fury of the Gods (which is the sequel to the 2019 movie Shazam! and stars Tangled actor Zachary Levi) as well as her starring role as the iconic Disney princess Snow White in the aforementioned upcoming remake, which will also star Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen.

Fans of star Rachel Zegler and West Side Story were outraged to learn that the actress (who has received high praise for her role as Maria in the movie, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress) had not been invited to the Academy Awards, even though she is the lead actress in the Steven Spielberg movie and the movie is nominated for seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture). Rachel attempted to calm down her fans on Twitter in the following Tweets.

my goodness, folks!! appreciate all the support, i really really do. we live in such unprecedented times, and a lot of work behind the scenes goes into making movie magic happen. that goes for film productions (like the one I am so lucky to be currently shooting in london)…

— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) March 20, 2022

…and awards shows alike. let’s all just respect the process and i’ll get off my phone x R.

— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) March 20, 2022

“I appreciate the support,” the Golden Globe award-winner Tweeted, adding that “a lot of work behind the scenes goes into making movie magic happen. That goes for film productions (like the one I am so lucky to be currently shooting in London)…and awards shows alike. Let’s all just respect the process”. The London film shoot that Rachel Zegler is referring to is the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs remake!

UPDATE: Rachel Zegler is going to the Oscars after all, according to The Hollywood Reporter! The Snow White actress has now been invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a presenter at the awards ceremony, even though she’s in London filming the Snow White film, so “efforts are being undertaken to rearrange the film’s shooting schedule to enable Zegler to be at the Oscars”.

West Side Story is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as Best Director (Steven Spielberg), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana DeBose), Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design. Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall will be hosting the awards ceremony. 

Are you going to watch the Oscars and admire celebrities’ hair, makeup, and fashion or style choices on the red carpet?