Rachel Zegler, the 23-year-old actress who skyrocketed to fame with her Golden Globe-winning role in West Side Story (2021), has recently found herself under intense scrutiny—not for her acting, but for her personal life. In May 2025, reports and social media buzz have highlighted multiple instances of Zegler allegedly being spotted intoxicated at bars in New York City, raising concerns about her well-being while igniting a firestorm of criticism online. The backlash comes on the heels of a tumultuous year for Zegler, marked by the catastrophic failure of Disney’s Snow White remake, in which she starred, and a barrage of controversies over her political statements. But are the online community’s reactions to her bar outings excessively harsh, or do they reflect legitimate concerns about a young star spiraling under pressure? This article explores the incidents, the public’s response, and the broader context of Zegler’s struggles, drawing on recent web discussions to assess whether the criticism has crossed a line.

The Bar Incidents: A Troubling Pattern?

The first reports of Zegler’s bar behavior surfaced in early May 2025, shortly after the Tony Awards snubbed her for her role in the Broadway revival of Romeo + Juliet, as reported by Daily Mail on May 1, 2025. Paparazzi photos and eyewitness accounts on X began circulating, alleging that Zegler was seen heavily intoxicated at several upscale Manhattan bars. One user, @NYCGossip, posted on May 2, 2025, “Rachel Zegler was at The Dead Rabbit last night—slurring her words and stumbling out at 1 a.m. Not a good look.” Another post by @BarHopperNYC claimed, “Saw Rachel Zegler at Employees Only, downing shots and yelling about Disney. She looked rough.” These accounts, while unverified, gained traction, amassing thousands of likes and retweets.

A grainy video shared on X on May 4, 2025, appeared to show Zegler at a bar, laughing loudly and struggling to stand, with a caption reading, “Rachel Zegler drunk again—this is the third time this week!” The video, which garnered over 2 million views, fueled speculation about her drinking habits. Sources close to Zegler, cited in a TMZ report on April 21, 2025, noted her stress over her dog Lenny’s illness, suggesting she might be turning to alcohol to cope. However, no official statements from Zegler or her team have confirmed these incidents, leaving much of the narrative driven by social media and tabloid speculation.

The Online Reaction: A Mixed Bag of Concern and Condemnation

The online community’s response to Zegler’s alleged bar antics has been polarized, reflecting the divisive sentiment that has followed her since Snow White’s release on March 21, 2025. The film, which grossed only $142.7 million against a $270 million budget, was a commercial disaster, and Zegler bore the brunt of the blame for its “woke” reimagining and her outspoken political views, including her “free Palestine” post and anti-Trump remarks, as detailed by Indy100 on April 1, 2025.

On X, some users expressed genuine concern for Zegler’s well-being. @FanOfRachel posted on May 3, 2025, “Rachel Zegler is clearly struggling—Hollywood pressure, hate campaigns, and now her dog is sick. Can we show her some compassion instead of judgment?” Others echoed this sentiment, pointing to her grueling schedule, including 18-hour days on Broadway, as a possible trigger for her behavior. A Reddit thread on r/popculturechat noted, “She’s 23, dealing with racist trolls, death threats, and a flop film. Drinking might be her way of coping—let’s not crucify her.”

However, a significant portion of the online reaction has been harsh and unforgiving. Critics on X and YouTube seized the opportunity to further vilify Zegler, often tying her bar incidents to her perceived “arrogance” and “narcissism.” A YouTube video titled “Rachel Zegler’s Drunken Downfall: From Disney Princess to Bar Hopper!” (May 5, 2025) accused her of “throwing away her career” and “disrespecting fans,” amassing 1.5 million views. On X, @AntiWokeCinema wrote, “Rachel Zegler tanked Snow White with her attitude, and now she’s a drunken mess. Hollywood needs to drop her.” Conservative commentators, already critical of her political stances, amplified the narrative, with one user, @PatriotVoice, posting, “This is what happens when you let ‘woke’ kids like Zegler run wild—no discipline, just entitlement.”

Context: A Young Star Under Pressure

To understand the online reaction, it’s crucial to examine the context of Zegler’s recent challenges. The Snow White remake was a lightning rod for controversy from the start, with Zegler facing racist backlash for her casting as a Latina Snow White, as noted by SlashFilm on April 26, 2025. Her comments criticizing the 1937 original as “dated” and her political posts—particularly her “free Palestine” statement and anti-Trump remarks—drew intense scrutiny, leading Disney to hire a social media specialist to vet her posts, per The Independent on April 3, 2025. The film’s failure, coupled with a rumored feud with co-star Gal Gadot over their opposing views on the Israel-Palestine conflict, left Zegler vulnerable to public vitriol.

Zegler’s personal life has also been under strain. Her dog Lenny’s illness, which she shared on Instagram on April 21, 2025, via TMZ, has visibly affected her, with the actress crowdsourcing help for his care. Her Broadway run in Romeo + Juliet, while critically mixed, was physically and emotionally taxing, and the Tony Awards snub on May 1, 2025, added to her professional setbacks. Additionally, Zegler has faced a relentless online hate campaign, with trolls targeting her ethnicity, appearance, and politics, as detailed by YNet News on April 6, 2025. This context suggests that her alleged bar outings may be a response to overwhelming stress rather than a sign of recklessness.

Is the Reaction Too Harsh?

The online community’s reaction to Zegler’s bar incidents appears disproportionately harsh when viewed through the lens of her circumstances. At 23, Zegler is navigating the pressures of fame, racism, and professional failure in a way that few her age can relate to. The entertainment industry is notorious for its toll on young stars—child actors like Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes faced similar scrutiny for their party behavior, often exacerbated by media sensationalism. Zegler’s situation mirrors these cases, with the added layer of modern social media amplifying every misstep.

The harshest criticism often stems from pre-existing biases against Zegler. Her political activism, while polarizing, is not uncommon among Gen Z stars, yet she’s been disproportionately targeted, as noted by The New Yorker on April 2, 2025, which argued that blaming her for Snow White’s failure was “perversely flattering.” The narrative of her being a “drunken mess” fits neatly into the smear campaign that has followed her since 2021, when trolls harassed her over her casting, even showing up at her home, per SlashFilm. This suggests that much of the online backlash is less about her bar behavior and more about a desire to see her fail, a pattern often seen with young women of color in Hollywood, as evidenced by Halle Bailey’s experience with The Little Mermaid.

That said, some concern is warranted. If Zegler is indeed struggling with alcohol as a coping mechanism, as speculated by fans on Reddit, it could signal deeper issues that need addressing. Her openness about mental health, as seen in a 2022 Elle interview, indicates she’s aware of fame’s toll, but the lack of privacy in her current situation—paparazzi tracking her every move—makes it harder for her to seek help discreetly. Public shaming, rather than support, may exacerbate her struggles, a point raised by supporters like Pedro Pascal, who called her an “icon” on Instagram, per Yahoo on April 1, 2025.

The Double Standard: Gender and Race in the Spotlight

The online reaction to Zegler also reveals a double standard in how young stars are treated based on gender and race. Male actors like Shia LaBeouf and Justin Bieber faced public meltdowns involving substance use, yet were often granted more leniency, with narratives focusing on redemption rather than condemnation. Zegler, as a Latina woman, faces harsher judgment, with her bar outings framed as a moral failing rather than a symptom of pressure. This aligns with YNet News’s observation that Zegler has been mocked for her appearance and ethnicity, with comments questioning her “fairest of them all” status as Snow White.

Moreover, the online community’s reaction often ignores the systemic issues Zegler faces. Hollywood’s lack of support for young actresses of color, combined with Disney’s failure to shield her from backlash during Snow White’s press tour, as noted by Yahoo on April 9, 2025, has left her exposed to relentless criticism. The studio’s decision to reimagine Snow White as a “woke” narrative was a corporate choice, yet Zegler has been scapegoated for its failure, a pattern of misogyny highlighted by The Independent on April 3, 2025.

Moving Forward: A Call for Empathy

Zegler’s next steps will be crucial for her personal and professional recovery. She’s already lined up a new project, She Gets It From Me, a comedy-drama with Marisa Tomei, which could offer a fresh start, per Daily Mail on May 1, 2025. Her West End debut in Evita, set for later in May 2025, also provides an opportunity to showcase her talent away from Hollywood’s glare, though she’ll miss the Met Gala due to rehearsals, as reported by Yahoo on April 7, 2025. These projects suggest Zegler is determined to move forward, but her ability to do so may depend on the public’s willingness to give her space.

The online community would do well to reflect on its role in Zegler’s narrative. While it’s natural to express concern over a young star’s behavior, the vitriolic tone of much of the criticism—calling her a “drunk” or “entitled”—is unconstructive and rooted in pre-existing biases. Celebrities like Ariana Grande and Helen Mirren have called for empathy, per Yahoo on April 1, 2025, and their voices should be heeded. Zegler’s bar incidents, if true, are a symptom of larger issues—Hollywood’s pressure cooker, online hate, and personal struggles—not a definitive mark of her character.

Conclusion

Rachel Zegler’s alleged bar outings in May 2025 have sparked a fierce online reaction, but much of the criticism appears excessively harsh given the context of her challenges. At 23, she’s navigating a level of scrutiny that would test anyone, compounded by racism, misogyny, and the fallout from Snow White’s failure. While her behavior may raise legitimate concerns about her well-being, the online community’s tendency to vilify rather than support her reflects a broader pattern of targeting young women of color in Hollywood. Zegler’s talent, evident in her West Side Story performance and Broadway work, deserves a chance to shine without the weight of unfair judgment. As she moves forward with new projects, the public should consider offering empathy rather than condemnation, allowing her the space to grow and heal in a world that’s often too quick to tear its stars down.