Rachel Zegler and the Unfair Backlash: Why the Hate Needs to Stop

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

By now, it’s become almost routine to see Rachel Zegler trending on social media—unfortunately, not always for the right reasons. Despite being a young, immensely talented actress with a once-in-a-generation voice, she has somehow become a lightning rod for online criticism. From comments about her interviews to out-of-context quotes, it seems as though Zegler can’t catch a break. But why is that? And more importantly, does she actually deserve the level of vitriol she receives?

The answer is simple: No, she doesn’t.

Zegler burst onto the scene with her incredible performance as Maria in West Side Story (2021), a role she won after beating out 30,000 other hopefuls. Her performance was widely praised, earning her a Golden Globe and putting her on the map as one of Hollywood’s brightest new stars. But, instead of celebrating her meteoric rise, a certain subset of the internet has spent the past few years picking apart everything she says and does.

Take, for example, the backlash over her comments about Snow White. Zegler, like any actress stepping into an iconic role, was asked about how this version of the story differs from the original. She made the not-so-controversial point that a modern retelling would naturally evolve to reflect contemporary values. That somehow turned into accusations of her “hating” the original film—something she never actually said. The discourse was blown out of proportion, with detractors using her words as a reason to discredit her entirely.

This kind of selective outrage isn’t new, but it’s frustratingly common for young women in Hollywood. For some reason, confidence is often mistaken for arrogance when it comes from a woman—especially one who isn’t afraid to express her opinions. If a male actor spoke about a role with the same level of conviction, it would be framed as passion. When Zegler does it, she’s labeled as entitled.

The truth is, Zegler is a 22-year-old still finding her footing in an industry that loves to build people up just to tear them down. She’s an undeniably talented performer who, by all accounts, has worked hard to get where she is. Does she say things in interviews that could be phrased better? Maybe. But so do plenty of other actors who never receive the same level of scrutiny.

At the end of the day, Rachel Zegler is a young woman doing her job—and doing it well. Maybe it’s time we let her. Instead of nitpicking every word she says, perhaps we should focus on the work she’s producing. Her performances speak for themselves, and if her career so far is any indication, she’s only getting started.

Hollywood needs fresh voices and performers who bring passion to their work. Instead of tearing them down before they’ve had a chance to grow, we should allow them the space to learn, evolve, and thrive. Zegler’s talent is undeniable, and the industry is better with her in it.