Outrage erupted earlier this week after news surfaced thatWest Side Storystar Rachel Zegler would not be in attendance at the 94th Academy Awards. Zegler failed to receive an invitation to attend, which perplexed many to hear the film’s leading star would be excluded from the film’s celebration. Amid the backlash, however, Zegler has received an invitation to be a presenter at this year’sOscarsceremony.
Steven Spielberg’sWest Side Storyhas been nominated in seven categories at the upcoming Academy Awards, making it the thirdmost-nominated film behindDuneandThe Power Of The Dog. Among the nominations for the film are the illustrious Best Picture and Best Director acknowledgments, which could set the stage for a fantastic night for all involved. Zegler took the lead as the iconic Maria in the story and gained tremendous praise for performance, which earned her a Golden Globe victory. One would assume that the leading face behind one of the year’s most-nominated projects would be able to attend the year’s most coveted awards ceremony, yet Zegler remained outside looking in.
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News oftheWest Side Storystar’s absencearose Sunday after Zegler posted a series of images to her personal Instagram account, with one comment expressing excitement over the actress’s possible Oscar night attire. Unfortunately, the breakout star made it clear in her response that she would not be in attendance, despite her efforts to obtain an invitation. While disheartening, Zegler continued to express her love for the film and the tireless work she and others did to bring the iconic story to life. However, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that a last-minute miracle seems to have arisen for Zegler, providing her with the incredible opportunity to bask in the film’s success as a presenter.
While admired for her performance, Zegler was not nominated in the Best Actress category at the upcoming Academy Awards, eliminating one avenue of obtaining an invitation. Another path would have come through the studio itself, but the additional tickets at their disposal were theirs to hand out as they saw fit. Neither the Academy nor the studio was obligated to extend an invitation to Zegler, but it raised eyebrows to see non-industry celebrities gain entrance and not the leading star behindone of the Best Picture nominees. Monday, it surfaced that the Academy had added DJ Khaled, Tony Hawke, and Shawn White to the long list of presenters for the ceremony, which raised some understandable questions.
It’s unclear what prompted the Academy to extend an invitation to Zegler, but the ensuing backlash that followed the news more than likely played a role. One notable reaction came fromOne Day at a Timeco-creator Gloria Calderón Kellett, who bashed the Academy’s claims of embracing diversity. Kellet expressed her disappointment and outrage via Twitter, noting the importance of the moment to see a Latine film nominated for Best Picture. Kellett emphasized that the young star should be in attendance to represent the film and its targeted demographic. Zegler acknowledged the wave of support ushered her way from multiple avenues and indicated that she would respect the process, even if it meant she would be supporting the film and her peers from the comfort of a couch instead.
It’s important to note that fewer tickets were available this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but Zegler’s role as a presenter now gains her entry into the ceremony. The young star is currently filming the upcominglive-action Disney filmSnow Whitein London, but THR says arrangements are being made to readjust the filming schedule so Zegler can be at the Oscars. The Academy is suffering from decreased ratings and expressed concerns over alterations made to the ceremony, but at least they got this right, even if they needed a push in the appropriate direction.
