Fans Are Furious With Zac Efron. Here's Why

Uh oh. What did Zac Efron do now? In mid-April 2020, the cast of High School Musical got together virtually to perform "We're All In This Together" as a special feature in The Disney Family Singalong special, per Cosmopolitan. It was precious and adorable and peppy — just what the world needed. The singalong brought together the whole crew, including: Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Lucas Grabeel, Monique Coleman, as well as Efron. Nice, right?

The only problem was that Efron introduced everyone and then, um, left?? Pop Crave posted a clip of Efron's screen time on Twitter. For his part in the special, the star wished that everyone was "safe and healthy and doing as well as possible during this unprecedented time." He continued: "It's my greatest pleasure to introduce a musical performance by some of my oldest friends... and some new ones. I hope that you enjoy and remember, we're all in this together." 

But that was it. While everyone else sang their little hearts out, Efron didn't sing one word. One Twitter user responded to the video by tweeting: "WHERE!! IS!! ZAC!! EFRON!! my childhood i am crying."

So what the heck happened?

In April 2020, High School Musical director Kenny Ortega spoke to Deadline about The Disney Family Singalong, explaining what it meant to him to be part of the process."I wanted to find something I can do to participate and it was so great to be given the call and invited by ABC to join. It gave me a purpose to get up every morning. I feel really good that we have an opportunity to do something like this — it's good medicine."

While HSM fans undoubtedly recognize the song "We're All In This Together," its lyrics have become something of a global motto in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Ortega told Deadline: "You're hearing those words chanted out — I've been sent videos from doctors, orderlies, nurses and medical professionals in masks and hospital gowns singing 'We're All In This Together' in the hallways of hospitals."

For that reason, Ortega asked actors from his movies and TV shows to participate in the singalong — hence the HSM reunion. However, there was one little clue from before the special even aired that indicated Zac Efron might not be as involved as the others. According to Deadline, the other members of the main cast "agreed," but Efron was "a last-minute addition."

When High School Musical director Kenny Ortega spoke about the Disney singalong using the song "We're All In This Together," he said to Deadline: "It's a really nice fun coming together of a lot of young people that are banding together under the lyrics of this song for the show." So with the motto of being in this together, fans were legit puzzled when Zac Efron only introduced the cast and then didn't sing a single word. 

That being said, Ortega explained Efron's absence: "We couldn't reach Zac until late but when we did, he immediately jumped in, of course. Everyone we reached out to was quick — and you'll see it in their spirit and the way they come together from their homes. They recognize this is an opportunity to strengthen spirits for those joining us for the broadcast."

While Ortega seemed unbothered, people on Twitter were not happy about the situation. One person wrote: "Wait y'all telling me that I WAITED all night for Zac Efron to reunite with his cast of HSM for him not to sing!?!?" Another person tweeted: "Finding out [Z]ac [E]fron didn't sing with the rest of the cast is just yet another major f**k you from 2020."

Efron isn't the only HSM alum who's gotten in trouble lately. Vanessa Hudgens made light of the coronavirus pandemic on Instagram and upset fans in March 2020. However, Hudgens has since apologized and it seems that fans' wrath has moved on Efron.