When Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake hit theaters in December 2021, it introduced Rachel Zegler as Maria, a role that catapulted the then-17-year-old into the Hollywood spotlight. Selected from over 30,000 applicants, Zegler’s performance earned critical acclaim, a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and praise from Spielberg himself. However, recent online narratives, including a YouTube video titled “Steven Spielberg REGRETS Casting Rachel Zegler After The Horrible Things She Did In West Side Story,” have sparked rumors suggesting Spielberg regretted her casting due to alleged misconduct. This article examines Spielberg’s actual sentiments, Zegler’s contributions to the film, and the origins of these unfounded claims, while debunking the misinformation circulating online.

A Star Is Born: Zegler’s Casting in West Side Story

In January 2018, Spielberg announced an open casting call for West Side Story, seeking Latina and Latino actors to authentically portray the Puerto Rican characters, a deliberate departure from the 1961 film’s use of white actors like Natalie Wood as Maria. Rachel Zegler, a Colombian-American high school student from New Jersey, responded with self-taped videos of herself singing “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty.” Having previously played Maria in a 2017 school production at Bergen Performing Arts Center, Zegler was no stranger to the role.

Spielberg was captivated by her audition. Casting director Cindy Tolan recalled, “When we got Rachel’s self-tape, I don’t really think I’d ever heard [Stephen] Sondheim sung like that before. The technical skill, her emotional presence, her grace, and charm were just so unusual for someone who was 17 years old”. After months of callbacks, Zegler was cast in January 2019, a decision Spielberg later described as finding “extraordinary” talent. “Rachel walked onto this huge set, never having made a movie before, surrounded by superbly talented actors with much more experience. She watched, she listened, she learned at a jaw-dropping rate,” he said in the film’s press kit.

Zegler’s commitment extended beyond acting. She worked with dialect coaches to perfect her Puerto Rican accent and performed her own vocals live on set, a challenging feat for songs like “A Boy Like That” and “I Have a Love” alongside Ariana DeBose. Spielberg even delayed rehearsals to accommodate Zegler’s high school production of Shrek the Musical, where she played Princess Fiona, a gesture that underscored his support for her.

Critical Acclaim and Spielberg’s Endorsement

Zegler’s performance was a highlight of the film, which critics praised for its authentic casting and vibrant reimagining of the classic musical. Collider noted that casting Zegler as Maria was “one of Spielberg’s best decisions,” adding depth and tragedy to the story through her authentic Latina representation. David Ehrlich of IndieWire called her performance “captivating,” while the National Board of Review named her the 2021 Best Actress, an honor previously awarded to Oscar winners like Brie Larson and Helen Mirren. Zegler’s Golden Globe win on January 9, 2022—exactly three years after her casting—was a poetic milestone, which she celebrated on X: “Life is very strange”.

Spielberg’s own words reflect pride, not regret. In interviews, he emphasized the importance of Zegler’s youth and authenticity: “Rachel was 17 when she got the part and blew out her birthday candles on set when she turned 18. It was really important to me that this is a story about youth”. He also personally recommended Zegler to Snow White director Marc Webb before West Side Story was released, a move that led to her casting as Disney’s live-action princess. These actions are inconsistent with any narrative of regret.

Zegler herself described Spielberg as a supportive mentor. In a 2023 post on X, she humorously recalled his direction not to blink during a scene, joking, “This is why I won the Golden Globe. My eyeballs of steel”. In a Collider interview, she shared how Spielberg encouraged her to channel fear into her performance, a lesson she carried to other projects. Their mutual respect was evident when Spielberg invited her to meet his filmmaking “family,” a group of frequent collaborators who welcomed her warmly.

The Source of the Rumors

The claim that Spielberg regrets casting Zegler appears to originate from a May 2025 YouTube video and related X posts, which allege she did “horrible things” during West Side Story’s production. However, these sources provide no specific evidence or credible details. An X post by @lisaindfw referenced a video of Spielberg “complaining about what a nightmare she was,” but no such video exists in reputable archives, and the claim aligns with no known interviews or statements from Spielberg. Another post by @CarterGiraffe62 linked to the YouTube video, but its sensational title lacks substantiation from primary sources.

Instead, the rumors seem tied to unrelated controversies surrounding Zegler, particularly her outspoken social media presence. In 2022, Zegler faced backlash for a dramatic reading of Britney Spears’ tweets, for which she later apologized. More significantly, her casting in Disney’s Snow White (released March 2025) drew racist criticism from some who opposed a Latina playing the traditionally white character, compounded by her comments calling the original 1937 film “weird” and “sexist”. Her vocal support for Palestine in 2023 also sparked debate, with some accusing her of politicizing Snow White’s promotion, though she received support from fans and critics like David Ehrlich.

Additionally, West Side Story faced challenges unrelated to Zegler. Her co-star Ansel Elgort was accused of sexual assault in June 2020, allegations he denied, which cast a shadow over the film’s release. Zegler told Elle that the media storm, where she and co-stars like Rita Moreno were repeatedly asked about Elgort, led to “some of the worst mental health days” of her life, as she felt unfairly held accountable for events predating her involvement. This controversy likely fueled negative sentiment around the film, which some online narratives may have misattributed to Zegler.

Debunking the “Horrible Things” Narrative

No credible reports document Zegler engaging in misconduct on the West Side Story set. On the contrary, her co-stars and crew described her as professional and vibrant. Ariana DeBose, who played Anita, praised their live-singing sessions, while Lucy Liu, from Shazam! Fury of the Gods, called Zegler “a ray of sunshine: effervescent and fun”. Spielberg’s cinematographer Janusz Kaminski was referenced in Zegler’s lighthearted X post about the “no blinking” challenge, indicating a collegial atmosphere. Her drama teacher, Greg Liosi, noted her “special talent” from an early age, and castmate Devyn Siegel described her as a “bright, friendly personality”.

The Daily Mail suggested Zegler’s role was “embroiled in scandal” due to Elgort’s allegations, but this was external to her actions. Claims about her being a “nightmare” may also stem from misinterpretations of her candidness, such as her Allure interview where she discussed white studio executives questioning her Latina identity during casting, an experience she found frustrating but which highlighted industry challenges, not her behavior.

The Bigger Picture: Zegler’s Legacy and Misinformation

Zegler’s West Side Story performance remains a landmark for Latina representation. As she told USA Today, playing Maria, a role she first encountered as a Latina lead in a musical, was deeply personal, reflecting her grandmother’s immigration from Colombia. Spielberg’s commitment to authentic casting, with 20 Puerto Rican or Puerto Rican-descended actors, including Zegler, was widely praised, addressing the 1961 film’s brownface and stereotypes.

The rumors about Spielberg’s regret reflect a broader issue of online misinformation, where unverified claims on platforms like X and YouTube can amplify false narratives. Zegler’s outspokenness, particularly on social and political issues, has made her a target for criticism, but it’s also earned her a dedicated fanbase. As David Ehrlich posted on X, “Rachel Zegler RULES and so obviously has a lifetime of incredible roles & performances ahead of her”.

Looking Forward

Since West Side Story, Zegler has starred in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), and Snow White (2025), and made her Broadway debut as Juliet in a 2024 Romeo and Juliet revival. She is set to play Eva Perón in a 2025 West End production of Evita, a role that will showcase her vocal and acting prowess. Spielberg’s early endorsement of her talent continues to resonate, with no evidence suggesting he views her as anything but a star.

The West Side Story experience, far from being a regret, was a triumph for both Spielberg and Zegler. As Zegler told BuzzFeed, the shoot was “a wonderful time” where the cast and crew were “gripping onto this story and this experience”. The rumors of “horrible things” are a distortion, easily debunked by the wealth of positive accounts from those who worked with her.