AceShowbiz - Just months after Jenna Ortega became a huge star thanks to the unprecedented success of Netflix's "Wednesday", the actress found herself at the center of a controversy. During an appearance on the "Armchair Expert" podcast in March 2023, Ortega revealed that she frequently changed her character's lines without consulting the writers, describing her actions as necessary to better represent Wednesday Addams. This led to backlash from the writing community and broader social media, with figures such as "Daredevil" producer Steven S. DeKnight calling her behavior "toxic" and "entitled."

Ortega has since reflected on the incident in several interviews, expressing regret over how her comments were conveyed. "To be fair, I think I probably could have used my words better in describing all of that," she told Vanity Fair. "I think it was hard because I felt like had I represented the situation better, it probably would've been received better."

Despite the backlash, Ortega acknowledged that the experience was a valuable lesson. "You're never going to please everybody, and as someone who naturally was a people pleaser, that was really hard for me to understand," she admitted. "Some people just may not like you...and that's entirely fine."

Reflecting on her busy year and the media attention that followed, Ortega remains grounded. "I got sick of myself last year," she confessed. "My face was everywhere... so it's like, fair enough, if I were opening my phone and I saw the same girl with some stupid quote or something, I would be over it too."

This ordeal also underscored the challenges faced by women in Hollywood, a sentiment Ortega echoed in her Vanity Fair interview, "Women have to be princesses. They have to be elegant and classy and so kind, and when they're outspoken, they can't be tamed and they're a mess."

Amidst the controversy, Ortega's popularity has not waned. "Wednesday" broke records for Netflix, streaming over 341.2 million hours within its first week. The show's success has earned Ortega a producer credit for its upcoming second season, scheduled to release in 2025. Tim Burton, executive producer and director of "Wednesday", praised her direct approach and artistic sensibility, even suggesting that she could direct the series if she wanted to.

Beyond "Wednesday", fans are eagerly awaiting Ortega’s next major project, the sequel to "Beetlejuice", where she stars alongside Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton and other notable actors. The sequel is set to hit theaters on September 6.

Ortega's journey highlights the complexities of navigating a burgeoning Hollywood career while maintaining creative integrity. As she gears up for new roles and responsibilities, her candid reflections serve as a reminder of the pressures and expectations placed on young stars today.