Ariana DeBose Says She Didn’t Know She Was Quoting Post Accusing Rachel Zegler of ‘Narcissism’: ‘Next Time I’ll Be Sure to Clarify Its Origins’

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Ariana DeBose has explained that she wasn’t aware she was sharing a critique of her “West Side Story” colleague, Rachel Zegler, when she shared the quote “Narcissism should not be indulged or supported” on her now-removed Instagram post on Tuesday.

On my Instagram story yesterday, I shared a quote that resonated with me deeply. Admittedly, I didn’t investigate its origin or the connection before posting. It wasn’t my intention to jump into the headlines. This isn’t the first time I’ve spoken about handling narcissism, and it likely won’t be the last. However, in future, I’ll make sure to disclose its source before sharing.

As a devoted admirer, I found myself pondering when DeBose appeared to express some thoughts that seemed directed at Zegler, by reposting a popular quote from Jonah Platt, the son of “Snow White” producer Marc Platt. In a message that’s no longer visible, Jonah Platt suggested last week that Zegler was accountable for the disappointing box office performance of the Disney remake, claiming she had been bringing her personal beliefs into the movie’s promotion.

On Tuesday, DeBose shared an Instagram post that repeated the last line from Jonah Platt’s original post: “Narcissism should not be indulged or reinforced.” This quote was placed over a picture of a floral arrangement. However, this post was removed soon after, with DeBose subsequently sharing a different statement.

Reps for DeBose and Zegler did not immediately respond to EbMaster‘s request for comment.

Jonah Platt, recognized for his “Being Jewish” podcast and appearances in Netflix’s “Uncoupled” and Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos,” expressed his thoughts on Instagram regarding the actress from “Snow White,” responding to a comment discussing reports that his father traveled to New York City to discuss an issue with Zegler during the movie’s promotional period. According to EbMaster, this meeting aimed to persuade her to remove a social media post advocating for Palestinian freedom, but it seems the attempt was unsuccessful.

Jonah Platt stated, in a now-removed post, that his father, who oversees a significant Disney IP worth hundreds of millions, had to travel across the nation to reprimand an employee who is 20 years old. This individual had been mixing their personal political views into the promotion of a movie they were contractually obligated to publicize for a substantial sum of money. He referred to this as maturity and accountability, emphasizing that her behavior negatively impacted the film’s box office earnings.

Free speech doesn’t give you the license to express whatever you desire in your professional setting without facing consequences,” Platt explained further. “She took over the discussion for her personal, juvenile whims, potentially endangering all the co-workers, crew members, and blue-collar workers whose livelihoods depend on the success of that film. Narcissism should not be indulged or tolerated.

Other well-known actors from Hollywood have publicly shown their support for Zegler and her budding career. On Sunday, “The Last of Us” actor Pedro Pascal posted a picture of the actress on his Instagram stories, labeling her as “#rolemodel”.

2021 saw the highly praised release of Steven Spielberg’s revamped version of “West Side Story,” despite underperforming at the box office. This movie catapulted newcomer Rachel Zegler into stardom by casting her as the lead character, María. Additionally, it earned Melissa Barrera DeBose an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, recognition for her portrayal of Anita.

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2025-04-02 03:18