Just over a month after their movie West Side Story hit theaters, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno are speaking about the sexual assault allegations against their co-star Ansel Elgort.
A woman named Gabby accused Elgort, 27, of sexually assaulting her when she was just 17 in 2014, from a social media account that has since been deleted.
Elgort admitted that he did have a ‘brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship’ with the woman, but denied any assault or wrongdoing, with his co-stars speaking about the allegations for the first time in a lengthy profile for The Hollywood Reporter.
Speaking: Just over a month after their movie West Side Story hit theaters, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno are speaking about the sexual assault allegations against their co-star Ansel Elgort
Accused: A woman named Gabby accused Elgort, 27, of sexually assaulting her when she was just 17 in 2014, from a social media account that has since been deleted
Their side: Elgort admitted that he did have a ‘brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship’ with the woman, but denied any assault or wrongdoing, with his co-stars speaking about the allegations for the first time in a lengthy profile for The Hollywood Reporter
Zegler, 20, made her feature film debut in West Side Story, beating out over 30K other actresses to play Maria, the young woman that Elgort’s character Tony falls for.
The actress has been asked several times to weigh in on the controversy, which she finally does in this wide-ranging THR cover story.
‘We made a movie two and a half years ago, and a lot has gone on in the world since then,’ Zegler began.
Debut: Zegler, 20, made her feature film debut in West Side Story, beating out over 30K other actresses to play Maria, the young woman that Elgort’s character Tony falls for
The world: ‘We made a movie two and a half years ago, and a lot has gone on in the world since then,’ Zegler began
‘A lot has changed very publicly, and privately as well. There’s been a lot of awakening,’ she continued.
‘You just hope that the people involved are OK, that they are asked in a respectful manner and that they are given the opportunity to answer for themselves,’ she concluded.
DeBose, 31, added, ‘Nobody really knows what’s going on in anyone’s head. Only the people who were involved in that situation know what actually went down.’
Awakening: ‘A lot has changed very publicly, and privately as well. There’s been a lot of awakening,’ she continued
Nobody really knows: DeBose, 31, added, ‘Nobody really knows what’s going on in anyone’s head. Only the people who were involved in that situation know what actually went down’
Moreno, 90, who played DeBose’s character Anita in the original 1961 adaptation of West Side Story and plays Valentina in this adaptation, also spoke about it.
‘I think it would have been absolutely horrendous and wrong for anyone to take sides in that matter. It’s not for me to make those judgments,’ Moreno said.
West Side Story has earned rave reviews with a 92% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with Zegler winning a Golden Globe and National Board of Review awards.
Rachel and Rita: Moreno, 90, who played DeBose’s character Anita in the original 1961 adaptation of West Side Story and plays Valentina in this adaptation, also spoke about it
It’s unclear if the allegations against Elgort will hurt the film’s chances at the Academy Awards, with the nominations announced on February 8.
While Zegler doesn’t have any films coming out in 2022, she is slated to star in two huge 2023 movies, Shazam: Fury of the Gods (July 2, 2023) and Disney’s Snow White.
DeBose has director Matthew Vaughn’s spy thriller Argyle in post-production, starring alongside Henry Cavill, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.
Moreno is currently filming The Prank with Meredith Salenger, Kate Flannery and Keith David.
Allegations: It’s unclear if the allegations against Elgort will hurt the film’s chances at the Academy Awards, with the nominations announced on February 8
Coming soon: While Zegler doesn’t have any films coming out in 2022, she is slated to star in two huge 2023 movies, Shazam: Fury of the Gods (July 2, 2023) and Disney’s Snow White
