Rachel Zegler Speaks on the Ansel Elgort Allegations: “There’s Been a Lot of Awakening”

Because the West Aspect Story press tour nears its finish, Rachel Zegler is addressing regarding allegations beforehand made towards her costar Ansel Elgort. The actor, who performs Tony, was accused of sexual assault almost a 12 months after filming wrapped on the remake, and Zegler, who performs Maria, hadn’t instantly spoken on the matter till a latest Hollywood Reporter interview. “We made a film two and a half years in the past, and quite a bit has gone on on this planet since then,” Zegler says within the cowl story.

In June 2020, a girl got here ahead on Twitter accusing Elgort of sexually assaulting her in 2014, when she was 17 and he was 20. “I simply wish to heal and I wish to inform different ladies who’ve been by means of the identical sh*t as me, you are not alone,” she mentioned on the time. Elgort denied the allegations in a now-deleted assertion, categorizing his relationship with the lady as “transient, authorized, and completely consensual.” (The age of consent in New York, the place the incident came about, is 17.)

Elgort wasn’t edited out of West Aspect Story, however he was noticeably sidelined within the ensuing press tour. And though the solid and crew did not touch upon the controversy, Zegler appeared to allude to the allegations in a tweet shared the same day they surfaced. “I’m feeling slightly misplaced tonight and i’m feeling slightly disillusioned. i do know a few of you might be, too,” she mentioned, “that is the world proper now— nevertheless it’s needed.” In The Hollywood Reporter, Zegler now says, “Lots has modified very publicly, and privately as properly. There’s been loads of awakening. You simply hope that the individuals concerned are OK, that they’re requested in a respectful method and that they’re given the chance to reply for themselves.”

Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno additionally shared their views within the cowl story. DeBose says, “No one actually is aware of what is going on on in anybody’s head. Solely the individuals who have been concerned in that scenario know what truly went down.” Moreno provides, “I believe it might have been completely horrendous and flawed for anybody to take sides in that matter. It is not for me to make these judgments.”