‘See you on Sunday!’: ‘West Side Story’ star Rachel Zegler gets her Oscars wish, will attend show
Rachel Zegler’s Oscar wish has been granted. The “West Side Story” breakout star will attend Sunday’s Academy Awards as a presenter, show producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan announced Wednesday.
Zegler, who is currently filming Disney’s “Snow White” in London, wrote on Twitter how excited she is to be attending the show following international furor over her not receiving an invite.
“Well folks, i can’t believe I’m saying this but… see you on Sunday!” Zegler tweeted, adding that Disney execs had pulled off “some real-life magic. I am thrilled to be able to celebrate my @westsidemovie fam at the Oscars.”
The 20-year-old breakout star of “West Side Story” revealed last week that she had not been invited to the Oscars, despite playing Maria in the Steven Spielberg-directed musical which is up for seven Oscars, including best picture. (Zegler is not individually nominated.)
In startling comments written in an Instagram photo caption, Zegler told fans how devastated she was not to be attending.
“I’m not invited,” said Zegler, in response to a question about what she’d be wearing in the comments. “So sweatpants and my boyfriend’s flannel.”
How to watch the 2022 Oscars:Everything you should know about Sunday’s Academy Awards
Rachel Zeglerdoes stardom her way with ‘West Side Story’
The news caused an immediate stir online that went viral. One commentator adroitly stated the news was “immensely bogus.” Another commented, “How’s the leading actress of a movie that’s up for 7 Academy Awards not invited? How does that make any sense???”
Zegler explained her own exasperation. “Y’all I have tried it all. But it doesn’t seem to be happening :’).” She added that she will “root for ‘West Side Story’ from my couch and be proud of the work we so tirelessly did 3 years ago.”
The actress did pray “some last-minute miracle occurs and I can celebrate our film in person. But hey, that’s how it goes sometimes, I guess,” Zegler wrote, giving “thanks for all the shock and outrage. I’m disappointed, too. But that’s okay. so proud of our movie ❤️.”
In the fallout that followed, fans wondered why The Walt Disney Co., which owns Oscars broadcaster ABC, wouldn’t want their new Snow White there in some capacity, either presenting or performing. Others saw it as a missed opportunity to have a rising young Latina star represented at the show.
Russ Tamblyn, who played Riff in the 1961 “West Side Story” and is a voting member of the Academy, tweeted Monday that it was the Academy’s, “duty to find Rachel a seat at the Oscars… When they say representation matters, this is what that means. Please do right by her.”
Oscar do’s and don’ts:Our unsolicited advice for hosts Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes
An Oscars hater and an Oscars lover fight it out
Contributing: Associated Press