Rachel Zegler Will Now Be a Presenter at the Oscars

Well, it seems like there's been a slight change of plans for Rachel Zegler at the 2022 Oscars. After the "West Side Story" lead originally stated that she wasn't invited to the Oscars, the Academy has since had a change of heart and invited the actor to present at Sunday's ceremony, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Zegler revealed the initial news of her absence from the award show on March 20 after she shared a series of recent photos on Instagram, including a few of her at the 2022 BAFTAs. On her post, a fan commented, "Can't wait to see what you'll be wearing on Oscar night." In response, Zegler wrote, "i'm not invited so sweatpants and my boyfriend's flannel."

Following a slew of fans expressing their disappointment, Zegler further elaborated, writing, "idk y'all i have tried it all but it doesn't seem to be happening :') i will root for 'west side story' from my couch and be proud of the work we so tirelessly did 3 years ago. 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. thanks for all the shock and outrage — i'm disappointed, too. but that's okay. so proud of our movie. ❤️"

The actor's revelation sparked outrage online, with many questioning why one of the stars of "West Side Story" hadn't already received her Oscars invite — especially since the film is up for seven nominations this year, including best picture and best supporting actress for Ariana DeBose. According to Entertainment Weekly, an industry source shed light on a possible explanation for Zegler's absentee invite, telling the outlet, "the studios behind nominated films determine ticket allotments for best picture nominees."

In light of the new developments, Zegler will likely join her fellow "West Side Story" cast members, including DeBose and Mike Faist, at the Oscars. In January, Zegler won a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture musical, becoming the youngest recipient of the award at just 20 years old. Now, fans are just waiting to see if she'll clinch more wins as award season comes to a close.