I was casually sitting at my kitchen table when I received a screen shot of the ever-so-lovely, current-box-office actor Zac Efron. The shot entailed a news story - a picture of Zac with the headline “Zac Efron has revealed that he regrets ever taking part in the High School Musical franchise” - shared by a viral twitter account. Along with the picture, the anonymous account tweeted its own reaction in all caps, stating that Zac didn’t deserve Troy Bolton and didn’t even sing in the movie.
After opening this text, it took time for me to comprehend what I was reading. In a split-second, my heart dropped through my stomach and to the floor. The old inner-budding tween inside of me was devastated. With what felt like a heavy-weight sitting on my chest, I flashed back to my 8-year-old self, begging my mother to buy me the DVD when we visited Epcot in Disney World.
Was this news really considered “news”? Maybe not. Or even shocking? After all, Zac failed to attend the anniversary reunion of the original film, causing even more hilarious trends on the likes of Twitter and Instagram. Okay, and the second paragraph you read - maybe my reaction wasn’t even that dramatic. Nonetheless, I did search for the story online, and what I found wasn’t heart break at all; I found pride.
As it turns out, the comedic actor didn’t break my heart this week. If anything, after just seeing his new film and gushing over the star’s demeanor, I am impressed, inspired, and amazed.
The interview in which he states his “regret” was with Men’s Fitness. The quote, which loosely follows the lines of him saying he wants to forget the kid he was in HSM, was actually Zac speaking as if he was someone else, commenting on his own career. Men’s Fitness quotes, “He did that one thing [Neighbors] that was funny—but I mean, he’s still just that kid from [High School Musical]” -Efron. The story then proceeds to say that his current co-star, Seth Rogen, thought this at first, but was amazed when he learned Zac was ‘self-effacing’ and ‘self-deprecating’.
Cut the heart-throb some slack here: It’s been a decade since HSM was released, and it’s still popular (Of course, you know I indulged myself in a HSM dance party in my college dorm this year, sing-along version). He’s still asked questions about it. After all of the impressive accomplishments to date, from Neighbors, The Lucky One, That Awkward Moment to Dirty Grandpa, I’d want to shed it to. I’d like to go back and delete every Facebook Status I made in 2009, and pretend I wasn’t that embarrassing in the 7th grade. It happens.
He has noted in the past that he is thankful for the opportunities the film gave him. Let’s be honest, the first film definitely launched him to success, but it’s a timeless tale of childhood stardom. In adult years, while relentlessly working towards diminishing that image, he turned to alcohol and substance abuse, but later received help.
The Men’s Fitness story made me proud. He wakes up at 5 A.M. to train, fuels his body right due to eating clean foods, and he’s training with Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) who said, “Zac committed to be the best possible version of himself and did it.”
Lucky for us, there’s plenty of opportunities to check out his newer, impressive bod. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising has hit theaters, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is slated for August, and an adaptation of the TV Series Baywatch, the movie behind this extreme dedication, should hit theaters next year. Inner tween-me is more thrilled than ever.
