On May 29, 2025, Rachel Zegler, the 24-year-old actress currently starring as Eva Perón in the West End revival of Evita at the London Palladium, found herself at the center of yet another storm of controversy. A series of veteran directors, some of whom have worked with Zegler in the past, have publicly criticized her for what they describe as an “entitled attitude,” accusing her of acting like a star and showing disrespect toward her co-actors. The allegations, which have sparked heated debates across social media platforms like X, come at a pivotal moment in Zegler’s career, raising questions about her professionalism, the pressures of fame, and the often unforgiving scrutiny faced by young women in Hollywood.

Zegler’s rise to fame has been nothing short of meteoric. Discovered by Steven Spielberg at 16 through an open casting call for West Side Story—where she beat out 30,000 applicants to play Maria, as noted on Wikipedia—she quickly became a Hollywood darling, earning a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 2021, the youngest winner in that category and the first of Colombian descent. Her performance was lauded, with critics praising her vocal abilities and emotional depth. Since then, she has starred in high-profile projects like Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and Disney’s live-action Snow White, which was released in March 2025. On stage, she made her Broadway debut in Romeo + Juliet in 2024, a production that drew the youngest ticket-buying audience in Broadway history, according to Vulture.

However, Zegler’s rapid ascent has been marred by controversies that have painted her as a polarizing figure. Her comments during the Snow White press tour—where she called the 1937 original “extremely dated” and criticized the prince as a “stalker,” as reported by the Daily Mail—drew significant backlash, with some fans accusing her of disrespecting the classic. The film itself was a commercial failure, grossing just $87 million globally against a $270 million budget, per Variety, and Zegler’s outspoken political views, including her support for Palestine and criticism of Donald Trump, further fueled the fire. Disney reportedly hired a social media guru to monitor her posts after her “Free Palestine” tweet led to death threats against her co-star Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress, as noted in Variety. Now, as Zegler takes on the iconic role of Eva Perón in Evita, new accusations of unprofessional behavior have emerged, threatening to further tarnish her reputation.

The criticism from veteran directors centers on Zegler’s alleged behavior during Evita rehearsals, which began in April 2025. According to sources cited in various YouTube videos, such as Rachel Zegler LOSES IT After SHOCKING Evita Rehearsal Confrontation LEAKS Online, Zegler has been accused of acting like a “diva,” prioritizing her own needs over the collaborative spirit of the production. One incident that has been widely discussed involves Zegler reportedly showing up unannounced to a rehearsal she wasn’t scheduled for, disrupting a session focused on the alternate cast, including Bella Brown, who plays The Mistress and covers for Zegler as Eva during her four scheduled absences, as noted in a Reddit thread. The stage manager confronted Zegler, asking her to leave, but tensions escalated when Brown herself stopped mid-performance to address Zegler, asking why she was there. The exchange allegedly grew heated, with Zegler defending her presence by saying, “I’m playing Eva—I should know how every part of the show comes together.”

Veteran director Alan Parker, who helmed the 1996 film adaptation of Evita starring Madonna, was among the first to speak out. In a statement to the Daily Mail, a source close to Parker claimed that the director, now 81, was “deeply disappointed” by Zegler’s behavior, noting that Madonna had shown “immense respect” for the role and the production team during her time as Eva. “Rachel’s attitude is a stark contrast—she seems to think she’s above everyone else,” the source said. Another director, David Hand Jr., son of the original Snow White director, echoed this sentiment in an interview with Ynetnews, where he had previously criticized Zegler for her comments on the Disney classic. “Her lack of humility is evident in how she treats her co-actors,” Hand Jr. said. “It’s not just about her words; it’s her actions.”

The accusations don’t stop at Evita. Sources claim that during the filming of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Zegler’s behavior rubbed some crew members the wrong way. A YouTube video titled Rachel Zegler Called A NIGHTMARE By Evita Director – Private Notes LEAKED! also alleged that Jamie Lloyd, the director of the Evita revival, had privately called Zegler “a nightmare” to work with, though these claims remain unverified and Lloyd has publicly supported her, calling her a “phenomenal talent.” Additionally, Zegler’s comments about taking the Shazam! role because she “needed a job,” as reported by Yahoo, were perceived by some as dismissive, further fueling the narrative of her being ungrateful.

The backlash has been swift and severe, with fans on X amplifying the directors’ criticisms. “Rachel Zegler thinks she’s a star, but she’s just a disrespectful kid,” one user wrote. Another commented, “She’s burning bridges left and right—Hollywood won’t tolerate this for long.” The hashtag #FireRachelZegler began trending, with some calling for her to be removed from Evita before its June 14 premiere. However, not everyone agrees with the criticism. Supporters argue that Zegler is being unfairly targeted, pointing to a pattern of misogyny and racism in the industry, as highlighted in articles like The Butler Collegian and SlashFilm. “She’s a 24-year-old Latina actress under immense pressure—why are we expecting her to be perfect?” one fan wrote on X. Another pointed out, “Male actors like Robert Pattinson trash their projects all the time and get praised for it. Why is Rachel held to a different standard?”

Zegler’s defenders also argue that the narrative of her being a “diva” is exaggerated. Her presence at the Evita rehearsal, while unscheduled, could be seen as a sign of dedication rather than disrespect—she wanted to understand the production holistically, a reasonable desire for a lead actress in a demanding role. Her comments about Shazam! were blunt but honest, reflecting the reality of a young actor navigating a competitive industry. Moreover, the criticism from veteran directors like Parker and Hand Jr. may be tinged with generational bias—Zegler’s outspokenness and modern approach to feminism, as seen in her Snow White comments, clash with the traditional expectations of Hollywood’s old guard.

Zegler herself has remained relatively quiet amid the controversy, but on May 24, she posted on Instagram, “Working hard to make you all proud. I’m sorry if I’ve let anyone down,” a message some interpreted as a response to the Evita rehearsal drama. Her apology, however, did little to quell the criticism, with some seeing it as an admission of guilt. The Evita production team has stood by her, with Jamie Lloyd issuing a statement on May 29: “Rachel is a vital part of this production. Tensions can run high in theater, but we’re focused on delivering a show that honors Evita’s legacy.”

The scrutiny Zegler faces is not new. As a Latina actress, she has been a target of racism and misogyny since her casting in Snow White, with critics arguing she wasn’t “white enough” for the role, despite the universality of fairy tales, as noted in ScreenRant. Her political activism, including her support for Palestine, has also made her a lightning rod for controversy, with Disney insiders blaming her for Snow White’s box office failure, according to Vanity Fair. The double standard is stark—male actors like Hugh Grant and Harrison Ford have criticized their projects without facing similar backlash, as pointed out in a Reddit thread on r/acting.

The criticism of Zegler also reflects broader issues in Hollywood, where young women, particularly women of color, are often held to impossible standards. Articles like The Independent and Collider argue that Zegler has been scapegoated for systemic failures, from Snow White’s poor performance to the Evita ticketing issues reported in earlier controversies. The narrative of her being “disrespectful” may be amplified by an industry and media eager to tear down a rising star who doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional ingenue.

As Evita prepares to open, Zegler’s talent remains undeniable. Early rehearsal clips show her delivering a powerful “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” and her Broadway success in Romeo + Juliet proves she can captivate audiences. Whether she can weather this latest storm remains to be seen, but her resilience in the face of adversity suggests she won’t be easily deterred. For now, the spotlight on Zegler is brighter than ever—a test of whether she can rise above the criticism and prove that her star power is more than just an attitude.