Ariana DeBose stirred controversy on April 1, 2025, by deleting an Instagram story that quoted criticism of her West Side Story co-star Rachel Zegler.
The quote from Jonah Platt, son of Zegler’s Snow White producer Marc Platt, is called Zegler’s “narcissism”, something “not to be coddled.” Platt’s comment followed Zegler’s post, “and always remember, free Palestine,” after the Snow White trailer dropped, which he claimed hurt the film’s promotion and box office by “hijacking the conversation” for her “immature desires.”
i love you all so much! thank you for the love and for 120m views on our trailer in just 24 hours! what a whirlwind.
i am in the thick of rehearsals for romeo + juliet so i’m gonna get outta here. bye for now. ❤️🍎🕊️
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) August 12, 2024DeBose faced backlash for sharing the quote, prompting her to delete it and clarify: “I post quotes often and thought this one was meaningful. I didn’t research its origins or know the connection until it was pointed out.” She added, “I had no intention of joining a news cycle,” noting she’d address narcissism again but with better context.
Ariana DeBose Says She Didn't Know She Was Quoting a Post Accusing Rachel Zegler of 'Narcissism': 'Next Time I'll Be Sure to Clarify Its Origins' https://t.co/L4QlaWAxXD
— Variety (@Variety) April 2, 2025The actresses who collaborated on Spielberg’s 2021 West Side Story, which saw Zegler breakout and DeBose win an Oscar, continue navigating high-profile careers under public scrutiny.
yeah sure….. pic.twitter.com/ba5pos8e1l
— kaylee ♡ (@zany_zeglian) April 1, 2025The incident highlights the tightrope, and both DeBose and Zegler walk with their platforms. DeBose’s quick retraction shows the stakes of online discourse, while Zegler’s political stance keeps fueling debate. As they chase new projects, their West Side Story bond faces a new test in the spotlight.
