Entertainment
Rachel Zegler Exits ‘Evita’ Performance Mid-Show Due to Illness
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NEED TO KNOW
- Rachel Zegler exited Evita mid-show on Thursday, July 24 due to illness
- Understudy Bella Brown stepped in for Act 2 and earned a five-minute standing ovation
- The revival features a standout staging of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” filmed live on Argyll Street in London
Rachel Zegler did, in fact, give Evita theatergoers something to cry about on Thursday, July 24.
The Golden Globe-winning actress — who is currently making her London stage debut as Eva Perón in director Jamie Lloyd’s stripped-back revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic rock opera — made a sudden exit from the stage during the show’s evening performance, due to illness.
PEOPLE happened to be among the crowd of the famed London Palladium theatre at the time, alongside a sea of stars in attendance. Her departure was announced at intermission.
After a brief hold, understudy Bella Brown, seen earlier as Perón’s Mistress in the musical, stepped in for Zegler for Act 2. The act nearly kicks off with the song “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” easily the most famous tune from composer Lloyd Webber and lyricist/book writer Tim Rice’s score.
Marc Brenner
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It’s also the scene making the most headlines from Lloyd’s production. Like he did in last season’s Tony Award-winning revival of Sunset Blvd. (which recently wrapped its run on Broadway after transferring from the West End), Lloyd utilizes cutting-edge video technology to capture an outdoor, live performance of a song and project it to those inside.
In this case, that’s the iconic scene in which Eva sings from the balcony of the Presidential Palace to her adoring Argentinean supporters. Lloyd stages the performance on the balcony of the London Palladium, with the public gathered below on Argyll Street in London mimicking the historic moment.
Marc Brenner
Brown completely nailed the number, and her performance as Eva throughout the rest of the show carried over the electricity, intensity and vulnerability Zegler had established in Act 1.
Audiences responded by giving Brown a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes. Brown and the company bowed a whopping 10 times.
“Today really showed just how important swings and covers are within this industry,” the actress later wrote in an Instagram Story. “They are pillars of a show!! A proud day to be at Evita.”
“What a lucky audience getting to see both myself and MY ANGEL REG ZEG!!” she penned, in another post.
Dave Benett/Getty
It’s unclear whether Zegler, 24, will be back on stage for the evening performance on Friday, July 25. Thursday was a two-show day for the actress, and she previously made it through both acts of the matinee.
Evita — which follows the controversial second wife of Argentine military leader-turned-president Juan Perón — is currently scheduled to run until Sept. 6 in London. The production began performances on June 14, and opened on July 1 to rave reviews.
“I couldn’t be luckier,” Zegler wrote at the time of opening, in a lengthy Instagram post. “I never thought I would get to live my dream this way. Surrounded by the most amazing people. I feel so held.”
The musical also stars Diego Andres Rodriguez as Che, James Olivas as Juan Perón and Aaron Lee Lambert as Agustín Magaldi. Carl Au, Gabriela Benedetti, Shakara Brown, Damian Buhagiar, Kyeirah D’Marni, Sally Frith, DeAngelo Jones, Lucas Koch, Natasha Leaver, Michael Lin, Dianté Lodge, Louis Mackrodt, Mireia Mambo, Mia Mullarkey, Perry O’Dea, Alysha Sontae, Monica Swayne, Jon Tsouras and Harrison Wilde make up the show’s ensemble, with Myla Carmen, Barney Hudson, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Ricardo Spriggs and Regan Bailey Walker as Swings.
Auora Breslin, Lois Haidar, Siena Merilind-Wu and Ffion Rosalie Williams share the role of The Child.
All, Zegler said, make “a cast of the most incredible individuals I have ever come across.”
“[They are] triple threats in every sense of the word,” she wrote. “Our company keeps its arms open and ready to accept whatever the day brings. Our swings keep the show running with an ease that only they can pull off. It’s wildly inspiring to witness on a day-to-day basis.”
Tickets for Evita are now on sale.
Entertainment
After Dianna Russini exit, Times staffers slam Athletic’s ‘reflexive’ response to Mike Vrabel photos

The Gray Lady is feeling a little exposed, it seems.
Page Six hears that the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal has caused some tension between New York Times staffers and the leadership of new stablemate the Athletic — with Times insiders grousing that the Athletic’s “reflexive” downplaying of the story embarassed Times journalists.
The Times bought sports site the Athletic in 2022 for around half a billion dollars, shut down its owns sports department and began, in effect, using the Athletic as its sports desk.
But in theory, the Athletic remains a separate entity under the Times’ umbrella, much like consumer vertical Wirecutter, which it acquired in 2013. Its staffer also don’t have to observe the official Times Code of Conduct.
As Page Six prepared to published photographs of the Athletic’s top NFL reporter Russini holding hands with New England Patriots head coach Vrabel at a luxurious Arizona resort, the Athletic’s executive editor, Stephen Ginsburg, told us, “These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at the Athletic.”
(Russini and Vrabel — who are both married to other people — have denied that there was anything improper about the meetup, and have said that they were both with groups of other friends at the hotel, though nobody else appears in any of the photographs).
Two days later, we reported that the Times launched an investigation into the matter and that Russini had been sidelined until the probe could be completed.
“It was really embarassing for the Times,” said one insider, who told us that after the story broke it was a major talking point on various desks across the Times newsroom, “It raised a lot of concerns because its something that should be taken seriously and [the statement] made it seems as if they didn’t think it warranted investigation.”
Our source said that its drilled into Times staff that they have to avoid even the appearance of an improper relationship with sources, and that the photographs raised unavoidable questions about whether Russini had crossed that line.
They said that staff at the Athletic and the Times “should be abiding by the same standard,” because the Vrabel episode makes in clear that — while “the Times likes to pretend they’re separate” — readers don’t make a distinction.
“It’s frustrating that in this instance it comes back to bite us,” said the source, “It lays bare this fake distinction.”
The source was at pains to point out that the gripe isn’t about the Athletic staff. “Anyone could make a mistake [like Russini appeared to have done in the pictures],” they said, “Someone on the Times could just as easily do that.” “It’s about the leadship,” they said.
Russini resigned on Tuesday, posting a statement on X saying, “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” the letter said. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.”
“In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini continued, adding that she has “no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
Meanwhile, Ginsberg told staff on Slack that he had begun an investigation as soon as he learned of the Vrabel issue, though “our instinct [was] to support and defend a colleague [publicly] while we continued to review the matter.”
He said that as “additional information emerged… new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”
He said that the inquiry would continue even though Russini had quit the publication would “continue a standards review of Dianna’s work that [the Athletic editorial director for standards and editorial quality] Mike Semel is leading.”
A rep for the Times didn’t comment.
Entertainment
‘Hunger Games’ actor arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, intent to kill

“Hunger Games” star Ethan Jamieson was arrested for allegedly assaulting three men with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.
The actor, who portrayed the District 4 male tribute in the 2012 movie, was taken into custody after allegedly attacking the men with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in Raleigh, North Carolina, TMZ reported Tuesday.
The alleged victim’s names weren’t revealed and were instead listed as E.F., J.M., and K.W.
According to Jamieson’s arrest report, he was previously arrested for allegedly “resisting a public officer” while in Raleigh in March 2025, per Us Weekly.
He was sentenced for the offense on March 26, according to People.
Jamieson, 27, got his start in the limelight when he scored a guest role in “One Tree Hill” in 2009.
He then starred in the 2010 movie “The Rusty Bucket Kids: Lincoln, Journey to 16” as Ethan.
Jamieson’s last role was in a 2013 episode of “Justified” as Milo Truth.
The actor previously gushed over filming “The Hunger Games” alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson.
“I knew that the books were popular, but I didn’t know that the movie was going to be so big,” he told Lancaster Online when the movie was released in 2012.
However, Jamieson admitted that he didn’t want to be a full-time actor and wanted to be a “normal person.”
That same month, he recalled working on the Gary Ross-directed set, telling Clevver TV, “There are a lot of good things [about production], but pulling pranks on each other was pretty fun.”
Entertainment
Katy Perry under investigation by Australian cops after Ruby Rose’s sexual assault allegation

Katy Perry is being investigated by Australian officials over Ruby Rose’s bombshell sexual assault allegation.
“Melbourne Sexual Offenses and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives are investigating a historical sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010,” Acting Sergeant Paul Hogan of Victoria Police said in a statement Tuesday.
“Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s Central Business District.”
Earlier that same day, Rose wrote via Threads that she had “finalized all reports” about Perry, 41, allegedly “pull[ing] her underwear to the side and rubb[ing] her disgusting vagina on [the actress’] face” at the Spice Market nightclub nearly 20 years ago.
“This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved,” the 40-year-old noted. “It’s going to look like I am ignoring everything from supportive messages, to other people’s experiences, but I’m not.”
The “Orange Is the New Black” alum added, “This is a standard request from the police and in many ways, quite the relief.”
Rose explained that she plans to “start the healing process” and “move forward.”
Perry’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
After Rose went viral for accusing the pop star of sexual assault over the weekend, Perry’s rep dubbed the allegations “categorically false” and “reckless lies.”
On Monday, the songwriter’s spokesperson said, “Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”
Perry shared a powerful message via Instagram Stories the following day, sharing her 2013 song “Grace of God.”
The lyrics, notably, center around the ability “to rise above” during hard times — and feature a line about how “the truth will set you free.”
Rose claimed on Sunday to have “photos” and “multiple” witnesses to back up her accusation.
The “Batwoman” star, who said she “threw up” on Perry after the alleged incident, added, “I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it.”
“Later [Perry] agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret,” she continued.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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