The entertainment industry thrives on rivalries, and a new feud has captured headlines as Jenna Ortega, the 22-year-old star of Wednesday and Scream, reportedly delivered a chilling statement that has left Rachel Zegler, her 23-year-old peer, reeling. On May 5, 2025, during a promotional interview for the second season of Wednesday, Ortega was asked about Zegler’s recent struggles following the flop of Disney’s live-action Snow White and her failing London play, Evita. Ortega’s response—“Some people need to learn when to step back and let the spotlight find someone else”—was perceived as a direct jab at Zegler, igniting a firestorm on social media and within Hollywood circles. This article explores the context of Ortega’s statement, Zegler’s recent career setbacks, the public reaction, and the broader implications for both actresses in an industry known for its cutthroat competition.
The Context: Zegler’s Downward Spiral
Rachel Zegler’s career has been a rollercoaster since her breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021), where she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. At 17, she beat out 30,000 applicants for the role of María, earning critical acclaim for her vocal talent and emotional depth. Subsequent roles in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) further showcased her potential, with her portrayal of Lucy Gray Baird earning praise despite the film’s modest box office performance.
However, 2025 has been a brutal year for Zegler. Disney’s live-action Snow White, released on March 21, 2025, was a commercial and critical disaster. The $270 million production grossed just $143 million globally, resulting in an estimated $250 million loss for Disney. Zegler’s casting as Snow White drew controversy due to her Colombian descent, with some fans arguing it deviated from the character’s “skin as white as snow” description, though others supported the inclusive choice. More damaging were Zegler’s comments during the press tour, where she called the 1937 original outdated and emphasized that her Snow White would focus on leadership rather than romance. These remarks alienated fans, who felt she disrespected Disney’s legacy, and the film’s creative choices—replacing the seven dwarfs with CGI “magical creatures” after backlash from Peter Dinklage—further fueled criticism.
Zegler’s next project, a revival of Evita at the London Palladium, has also flopped. Set to open on June 14, 2025, the production has struggled with ticket sales, with vast sections of the 2,286-seat venue remaining unsold weeks before its debut. The play, directed by Jamie Lloyd, was expected to be a highlight of the West End season, but Zegler’s controversies, including Madonna’s reported displeasure over her casting as Eva Perón, have overshadowed the production. Zegler’s recent Broadway stint in Romeo and Juliet (2024) was a success, but her current trajectory has led to whispers of a “fall from grace” in Hollywood.
Ortega’s Rise and the Infamous Statement
Jenna Ortega, meanwhile, has solidified her status as one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. Her role as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday (2022) made her a global sensation, with the series garnering over 1 billion hours viewed in its first month. Ortega’s performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination, and her subsequent roles in Scream VI (2023) and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) have cemented her as a scream queen with mainstream appeal. The second season of Wednesday, set to premiere in late 2025, is one of Netflix’s most anticipated releases, with Ortega taking on a producer role and reportedly pushing for a darker, more horror-centric tone.
During a May 5, 2025, interview with Variety to promote Wednesday Season 2, Ortega was asked about the challenges young actresses face in Hollywood, with the interviewer specifically mentioning Zegler’s recent flops. Ortega’s response was ice-cold: “Some people need to learn when to step back and let the spotlight find someone else. Not everyone’s cut out for this industry—it’s brutal, and you have to know when your moment’s passed.” While she didn’t name Zegler directly, the context made the target clear, and the statement quickly went viral, amassing over 10 million views on X within 24 hours.
Public Reaction and Social Media Storm
The reaction to Ortega’s statement was swift and polarized. On X, fans and critics alike dissected her words, with hashtags like #JennaVsRachel and #OrtegaEndsZegler trending globally. Zegler’s supporters accused Ortega of kicking a peer while she’s down, with one user writing, “Jenna Ortega throwing shade at Rachel Zegler when she’s already struggling is so low. This industry doesn’t need more toxicity.” Others praised Ortega’s bluntness, viewing it as a rare moment of honesty in a polished Hollywood landscape. A viral X post read, “Jenna Ortega just said what we’re all thinking—Rachel Zegler’s career is tanking, and it’s time she steps aside.”
Zegler has not publicly responded to Ortega’s comment as of May 7, 2025, but sources close to her claim she was “devastated” by the remark. An insider told The Sun that Zegler feels “betrayed” by Ortega, whom she considered a friend, having bonded over their shared experiences as Latina actresses in Hollywood. The statement has also reignited discussions about Zegler’s controversies, with some X users resurfacing her Snow White comments and the satirical Simpsons episode that mocked her, amplifying the narrative of her decline.
Ortega’s fans, however, see her statement as a reflection of her no-nonsense approach to fame. Known for her candidness—she once called out Hollywood’s “fake crying” culture in a 2023 interview—Ortega has cultivated a reputation for authenticity. Her supporters argue that her comment wasn’t personal but a general observation about the industry’s harsh realities, with one X user stating, “Jenna wasn’t even shading Rachel—she’s just speaking facts. Hollywood chews people up and spits them out.”
The Broader Implications
Ortega’s statement has far-reaching implications for both actresses and the industry at large:
For Rachel Zegler
Ortega’s comment has effectively “ended” Zegler’s current run in the public eye, at least for now. The viral nature of the statement has amplified Zegler’s struggles, making her a target for further scrutiny. Her upcoming role in the comedy-drama She Gets It From Me with Marisa Tomei offers a chance for redemption, but the damage to her reputation may linger. Zegler’s career now hinges on her ability to pivot—perhaps by focusing on smaller, less controversial projects to rebuild her image. The Evita flop, combined with Ortega’s words, has painted her as a cautionary tale of a young star who rose too quickly and fell just as fast.
For Jenna Ortega
Ortega’s statement has solidified her as a formidable figure in Hollywood, but it comes with risks. While her fans admire her boldness, the backlash from Zegler’s supporters could tarnish her image as a “mean girl,” a label that can be hard to shake in an industry that values likability, especially for young actresses. Ortega’s rising star power—she’s reportedly in talks for a major Marvel role—means she can weather the storm, but the incident highlights the double-edged sword of fame. Her focus on Wednesday Season 2, which she has described as “bigger and better” than the first, will likely keep her in the spotlight, but she may need to tread carefully to avoid alienating peers.
For Hollywood
The feud underscores the competitive, often ruthless nature of Hollywood, particularly for young women of color. Both Ortega and Zegler are Latina actresses who have faced scrutiny for their roles—Ortega for her portrayal of Wednesday, which some criticized as “too modern,” and Zegler for her casting in Snow White. The incident highlights the pressure on young stars to not only succeed but also support each other publicly, a standard rarely applied to their male counterparts. It also reflects the industry’s tendency to pit women against each other, with media narratives framing Ortega and Zegler as rivals rather than colleagues navigating similar challenges.
A Critical Perspective
While the narrative of Ortega “ending” Zegler’s career dominates headlines, it’s worth examining the broader dynamics at play. The entertainment industry often amplifies conflicts between young women, particularly women of color, to drive clicks and engagement. Ortega’s statement, though harsh, may have been taken out of context by a media eager for drama—her words were a general comment, not a direct attack, yet the framing has turned it into a personal feud. Zegler’s struggles, meanwhile, are not solely her fault; the Snow White flop reflects Disney’s broader missteps with live-action remakes, and the Evita ticket sales may be impacted by a competitive West End market and economic pressures rather than Zegler alone.
Moreover, the backlash against Zegler often carries undertones of misogyny and racism. Her comments on Snow White were criticized more harshly than similar remarks by white actresses, and her casting controversies mirror those faced by other actresses of color, like Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid. Ortega, too, has faced scrutiny for her ethnicity, yet her current success shields her from the level of vitriol Zegler endures. This disparity suggests a double standard in how the industry and public judge young Latina stars.
Conclusion
Jenna Ortega’s cold statement on May 5, 2025—“Some people need to learn when to step back and let the spotlight find someone else”—has cast a harsh spotlight on Rachel Zegler’s faltering career, amplifying her recent flops with Snow White and Evita. The viral remark, made during an interview for Wednesday Season 2, has sparked a fierce debate, with fans divided between condemning Ortega’s shade and applauding her honesty. For Zegler, the statement marks a low point, potentially “ending” her current run unless she can rebound with future projects. For Ortega, it reinforces her rising dominance but risks backlash that could impact her reputation.
As of 04:04 PM on May 7, 2025, the feud continues to dominate social media, reflecting the brutal nature of Hollywood for young women navigating fame. While the media frames this as a personal clash, it’s also a symptom of systemic issues—racial and gender biases, the pressure to conform, and the industry’s love for manufactured drama. Whether Zegler can reclaim her footing and Ortega can maintain her ascent remains to be seen, but this moment underscores the high stakes and fleeting nature of stardom in Tinseltown.
