This weekend a whole lotta folks learned on social media that Rachel Zegler hadn’t been invited to the Oscars. The actress said on Instagram: “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.”
In case her name doesn’t ring any bells for you, she plays Maria in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, the same movie that’s up for seven Oscars including Best Picture. Not giving her a ticket to the Academy Awards feels like a cold move, doesn’t it? Here’s a little perspective via pbs.com:
Best picture nominees are allotted a certain number of tickets by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which the film’s studio then dolls out as they see fit. Presenters and individual nominees get a pair of tickets. And other spots in the room go to the broadcaster, sponsors and academy members, who can enter a lottery.
Zegler is not nominated, but to only make things more vexing, her next big role is as Snow White, which she is currently filming in London. Some wondered why The Walt Disney Co., which owns Oscars broadcaster ABC, wouldn’t want their new Snow White there in some capacity, like presenting or performing. Others saw it as a missed opportunity to have a rising young Latina star represented at the show.
Vexing indeed.
Well, it looks like us internet dwellers weren’t the only ones who were vexed. Zegler originally posted about the snub on Instagram this past weekend. I read about it on Twitter on Monday and like I said earlier, I wasn’t the only one. The buzz about the West Side Story Ticket Snub Situation eventually reached the Academy and Zegler has now officially been invited to present. Via hollywoodreporter.com:
The 20-year-old Latina actress is currently in London shooting Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White. THR hears that efforts are being undertaken to rearrange the film’s shooting schedule to enable Zegler to be at the Oscars.
Zegler & the internet - 1
The person who opted out of giving Zegler her well-deserved ticket to the Oscars this year - 0