Jenna Ortega Addresses Backlash Over "Wednesday" Script Modification Comments

After facing criticism for altering lines in the hit Netflix series "Wednesday," Jenna Ortega acknowledges that her communication could have been improved. She emphasizes the challenges of being a public figure and the impact it has had on her personal growth.

Jenna Ortega, the rising star who captivated audiences with her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the popular Netflix series, is addressing the backlash she received following her comments about modifying her character's lines.

Jenna Ortega Addresses Backlash Over "Wednesday" Script Modification Comments

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega expressed regret for her initial statements, acknowledging that she "could have used [her] words better" when discussing her involvement in the development of her character.

"I think, oftentimes, I’m such a rambler. I think it was hard because I felt like had I represented the situation better, it probably would’ve been received better," she told Vanity Fair.

Jenna Ortega Addresses Backlash Over "Wednesday" Script Modification Comments

Ortega's comments stemmed from a March 2023 appearance on Dax Shepard's podcast, "Armchair Expert," where she revealed that she had made changes to the "Wednesday" scripts without consulting the writers' room.

"There were times on that set where I even became almost unprofessional in a sense where I just started changing lines," she said on the podcast. "The script supervisor thought I was going with something, and then I had to sit down with the writers, and they’d be like, ‘Wait, what happened to the scene?’ And I’d have to go and explain why I couldn’t go do certain things."

Jenna Ortega Addresses Backlash Over "Wednesday" Script Modification Comments

Her statements sparked controversy among some listeners, who criticized her for not supporting the writers. However, Ortega maintains that her actions were not intended to undermine their work.

"I probably could have used my words better in describing all of that. I think, oftentimes, I’m such a rambler. I think it was hard because I felt like had I represented the situation better, it probably would’ve been received better." — Jenna Ortega

Reflecting on the experience, Ortega shared that she felt "like a caricature of myself" as her comments were amplified and scrutinized by the media. She admitted that the situation made her aware of the challenges of living life in the public eye.

"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 said. "Some people just may not like you… and that’s entirely fine."

Ortega also believes that part of the backlash may have stemmed from her increased public visibility in 2023. She joked that she "got sick of [her]self" after seeing her face plastered everywhere.

"If I were opening [my] phone and… saw the same girl with some stupid quote or something," she explained, "I would be over it too."

Despite the controversy, Ortega's portrayal of Wednesday Addams has been widely praised. She received Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award nominations for her performance. She is set to reprise her role in the second season of the show, where she will also serve as a producer.

"I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired," Ortega said of the second season. "Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time, I mean, there's six-year-olds watching… We’re doing this thing now where Wednesday just kind of appears. She is a little bit of a jump scare herself."

The second season of "Wednesday" is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2025.