Some People Didn’t Love Hairspray Live for This Reason
2016 seems to have really been the year of TV musicals. We had Grease: Live back in the spring, The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again at Halloween, and now, just in time for the holidays, NBC showered us with the joy that is Hairspray Live. While most people seemed to really have enjoyed Hairspray (especially Arianna Grande’s role), there is a very vocal contingent of people online who absolutely hated this version of the campy classic. And their reason is oh-so specific.
All the Hairspray Live hate is directed at the fact that Zac Efron was not cast to play Link Larkin like he did in the movie. These Zefron fans are not going to let NBC live this casting down.
This new Link Larkin in Hairspray Live seems like a cheap knockoff of Zac Efron. Bring back Zac Efron! #HairsprayLive
— Sara R. (@sara_rubin) November 24, 2016
missing @ZacEfron right about now 💯😍😭❤️❤️❤️ #HairsprayLive pic.twitter.com/SFDwmXw4zL
— Savannah Grimm (@savvygrimm) December 8, 2016
Can we just take a moment to appreciate the perfection that was Zac Efron as Link? Ideal casting, imo. #HairsprayLive pic.twitter.com/WMdKn7Yr8R
— Brittany Butler (@ibrittanybutler) December 8, 2016
I miss Zac Efron. That's my default state, but. I really miss Zac Efron. #HairsprayLive
— Louis Peitzman (@LouisPeitzman) December 8, 2016
The fans were so vocal about this that #ZacEfron was trending during the broadcast last night.
Zac Efron trending even though he isn't in #HairsprayLive is the most Zac Efron thing
— alyssa♦️ありさ (@alyssanitta) December 8, 2016
While we’re sure that Zac Efron didn’t want to do the live version on television, and most people loved the show, it’s clear that Zefron-stans will forever be #TeamTroy even when their beloved actor isn’t involved.
What did you think of Hairspray Live? Tell us @BritandCo!
(Photo via Carlos Alvarez/NBC/Getty)