London, United Kingdom, May 27, 2025 – The drama surrounding Rachel Zegler’s role in the West End revival of Evita has taken a dramatic legal turn, with the 24-year-old actress’s legal team demanding the removal of leaked rehearsal footage and threatening a lawsuit against the production company. The controversy, which erupted after videos surfaced online allegedly showing Zegler being escorted out of rehearsals by security, has escalated into a full-blown legal battle, pitting the rising star against the Evita producers amid claims of contract breaches, defamation, and a possible setup. As the theater community and Zegler’s fans grapple with the fallout, this latest development raises critical questions about privacy, professional conduct, and the challenges young actresses face in navigating high-profile roles in an era of relentless online scrutiny.

A Rising Star Under Fire

Rachel Zegler first captured global attention with her breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021), earning a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Maria. Since then, the actress of Colombian-Polish descent has been on a meteoric rise, starring in major films like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and Disney’s live-action Snow White (2025). However, her career has also been marked by controversies, from backlash over her comments on the original Snow White film to her outspoken political views, including a post-election Instagram rant in November 2024 where she expressed frustration with Donald Trump and his supporters, leading to a swift apology after significant public outcry.

Zegler’s latest project, a starring role as Eva Perón in the West End revival of Evita at the London Palladium, was announced in March 2025, with the production set to run from June 14 to September 6, 2025. Directed by Jamie Lloyd, the musical was seen as a chance for Zegler to showcase her vocal and acting prowess on one of theater’s most prestigious stages, following her successful Broadway debut in Romeo + Juliet in 2024, which drew the youngest ticket-buying audience in Broadway history. Lloyd praised Zegler’s “incredible passion” for the show, predicting she would “blow the roof off the London Palladium.” Yet, despite high expectations, the production has been plagued by drama from the start, with slow ticket sales and rumors of backstage tensions casting a shadow over its upcoming premiere.

The Leaked Footage: A Firestorm Ignites

The controversy took a significant turn in mid-May 2025, when leaked footage emerged online allegedly showing Zegler being escorted out of an Evita rehearsal by security. The grainy clips, first shared on May 16, depicted a tense scene where a young woman, presumed to be Zegler, appeared to be in a heated exchange before being removed from the rehearsal space. Subsequent videos surfaced, including one on May 25 that reportedly showed her throwing a prop in frustration during a final rehearsal, further fueling speculation of a meltdown. Social media platforms like YouTube and X buzzed with sensational headlines, with some claiming Zegler had been “dragged out” due to “disruptive behavior,” while others speculated she had been replaced, pointing to unverified footage of another actress, identified by fans as Camila Delgado, performing “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”

The Evita producers responded swiftly, filing a lawsuit against Zegler on May 20, accusing her of breaching her contract. Reports suggest the producers are seeking $500,000 in damages, citing her alleged unprofessional conduct and failure to meet rehearsal obligations as violations of her agreement. The legal action intensified rumors of Zegler’s potential replacement, with some sources claiming the production team had begun erasing her from internal communications and call sheets. However, theater reports as recent as May 20 confirmed Zegler’s active involvement, with photos showing her rehearsing key scenes, and official listings still name her as the lead, with Bella Brown as a planned alternate.

Zegler Fights Back: A Countersuit and a Demand for Removal

Zegler’s legal team wasted no time in responding to the escalating drama. On May 21, she filed a countersuit against the Evita producers, alleging that they had set her up to fail by leaking the footage to damage her reputation and justify her potential dismissal. Her legal filing claims the videos were edited to misrepresent the situation, portraying her as unprofessional while omitting context that would show her actions were a response to mistreatment by the production team. Sources close to Zegler suggest she faced unreasonable demands and a hostile work environment, which contributed to the tensions captured in the footage.

The latest development came on May 23, when Zegler’s legal team issued a formal demand for the removal of all leaked Evita rehearsal footage, threatening a lawsuit against the production company and any outlets hosting the videos if they failed to comply. The demand cites violations of Zegler’s privacy and potential defamation, arguing that the unauthorized release of the footage has caused irreparable harm to her reputation and career. “This is not just about drama anymore—it’s a legal war,” stated a YouTube report on the same day, capturing the escalating stakes of the conflict.

Zegler’s countersuit also alleges that the producers’ actions were a deliberate attempt to scapegoat her for the production’s struggles, including slow ticket sales reported in April 2025, which showed rows of unsold seats despite ticket prices starting at £29.50 for the 2,286-seat venue. Some fans have echoed this sentiment, with posts on X suggesting the Evita team is using Zegler as a convenient target to deflect from broader production issues, possibly exacerbated by the fallout from her Snow White controversies, which saw the film gross just $42.2 million domestically against a $270 million budget.

A Critical Examination: Who’s to Blame?

The narrative around Zegler’s Evita drama is complex, with both sides presenting compelling arguments that warrant scrutiny. The producers’ lawsuit paints Zegler as a liability, claiming her alleged behavior—throwing props, clashing with the team—disrupted the production and violated her contract. If true, this could justify their legal action, especially given the high stakes of a West End revival with a significant financial investment. Slow ticket sales, as reported in April 2025, may have heightened their concerns, with Zegler’s polarizing public image potentially deterring audiences still reeling from her Snow White backlash, where she faced racist attacks and criticism for her comments on the original film and her pro-Palestinian stance.

However, Zegler’s countersuit raises serious questions about the producers’ motives and conduct. The leaked footage, which lacks context and has been sensationalized online, could indeed be part of a calculated effort to tarnish her reputation—a tactic not uncommon in an industry known for its cutthroat dynamics. Zegler’s claim of a setup aligns with her history of being disproportionately targeted for her outspokenness, as seen in the Snow White fallout, where Disney insiders blamed her for the film’s failure despite broader production issues, such as the controversial CGI dwarfs and a $350 million budget that didn’t resonate with audiences. The timing of the leaks, coinciding with rumors of her replacement, suggests a possible agenda, though no concrete evidence confirms Camila Delgado or any other actress has taken her role.

Zegler’s legal team’s demand for the footage’s removal highlights a broader issue: the invasion of privacy in the digital age. Rehearsals are typically private spaces where artists can experiment and make mistakes without public judgment. The unauthorized release of these videos not only violates that sanctity but also amplifies the scrutiny Zegler faces as a young Latina actress in an industry that often holds women of color to harsher standards. Her experience echoes the challenges faced by other young stars, where a single misstep—or perceived misstep—can lead to a disproportionate backlash, often fueled by racial and gender biases.

The Broader Implications: Zegler’s Career and the Theater Industry

The Evita controversy could have lasting implications for Zegler’s career, which has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. On one hand, her talent is undeniable—her West Side Story performance earned critical acclaim, and her Broadway debut in Romeo + Juliet proved her stage credentials. Upcoming projects like the indie dramedy She Gets It From Me with Marisa Tomei, set for 2026, and her role in the 2024 horror-comedy Y2K, which received praise for her subversive performance, suggest she has the versatility to rebound. On the other hand, the Snow White flop and the Evita drama have painted her as a polarizing figure, with some studios reportedly distancing themselves, as claimed in a May 17 YouTube report, though such claims remain unverified.

For the theater industry, this saga underscores the challenges of managing high-profile productions in an era where social media can amplify every misstep. The Evita producers’ decision to leak—or failure to prevent the leak of—rehearsal footage has backfired, drawing more attention to the production’s struggles than its potential successes. Slow ticket sales, reported in April 2025, may reflect broader audience fatigue with Zegler’s public image, but they also point to a failure in marketing and casting strategy, especially given the high expectations set by Jamie Lloyd’s involvement.

A Moment of Reckoning

As Zegler’s legal team threatens a lawsuit and demands the removal of the Evita footage, the outcome of this battle remains uncertain. If the footage is removed and her countersuit succeeds, Zegler could emerge vindicated, using her Evita debut on June 14 to reclaim her narrative and prove her detractors wrong. A strong performance as Eva Perón could shift the focus from her controversies to her talent, potentially redefining her career trajectory. However, if the producers’ lawsuit prevails, or if public sentiment continues to sour, Zegler may face further challenges in an industry already wary of her outspokenness.

Ultimately, this controversy is a moment of reckoning—for Zegler, for the Evita team, and for an industry grappling with how to handle young stars who refuse to conform. As the curtain prepares to rise on Evita, all eyes will be on Zegler, not just for her performance, but for her resilience in the face of a storm that threatens to overshadow her undeniable talent.