Rachel Zegler has been invited to the 2022 Oscars as a presenter, all thanks to her diehard fans.
The “West Side Story” star has received an invite to the ceremony to present, according to The Hollywood Reporter, following the star’s revelation that she never was offered a ticket despite her starring role in the nominated film.
Zegler, 20, is in London shooting Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White,” but THR reports that production is trying to rearrange schedules to allow her to attend.
“I’m not invited so sweatpants and my boyfriend’s flannel,” Zegler wrote on her Instagram Story over the weekend, in response to a fan who was looking forward to seeing the beauty on the red carpet.
The reveal led many of her followers to call out the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for skipping over the actress in favor of presenters with fewer ties to the film industry, including DJ Khaled and athletes like Shaun White and Tony Hawk.
Zegler starred in “West Side Story,” which received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. AP“But how are [DJ] Khaled and Shaun White there, but not the star of West Side Story, and her movie is nominated, though?” one fan replied to the Academy’s Twitter account announcing the event’s presenters.
Another fan sarcastically added on Instagram, “Nothing reminds me of the awesome power of filmmaking like…skateboarders, surfers and DJs.”
Fans of the actress spoke up following her snub by the Academy.WireImageRuss Tamblyn — who played Riff in the 1961 film adaption of the Broadway play — also spoke up on Zegler’s behalf, tweeting his distaste for the snub on Monday.
“@TheAcademy As a voting member and the original Riff, let me say: it’s your duty to find Rachel a seat at the Oscars,” Tamblyn, 87, tweeted. “She STARS in #Westsidestory which is nominated across the board. When they say representation matters, this is what that means. Please do right by her.”
