Zendaya is one of Hollywood’s biggest actresses. The actress kicked off her acting career with the Disney sitcom Shake It Up, and she has appeared in blockbusters since then. She made her movie debut with Spiderman: Homecoming alongside Tom Holland. Zendaya’s recent credit includes Spider-Man: No Way Home and HBO’s Euphoria. Zendaya is currently enjoying a successful career. However, despite starring in hit movies, one of her roles faced massive backlash from the audience.
Zendaya starred as Marie in, Malcolm & Marie, released in 2021 on Netflix. Malcolm & Marie follows a filmmaker played by John David Washington and his girlfriend Marie as they return home from his movie premiere, burning tensions and painful revelations push them toward a romantic reckoning. Though Zendaya was nominated for Best Actress at the 26th Critics’ Choice Awards, the actress was criticized for her role in the netflim film for age gap between the actors.
Social Media users took to Twitter and criticized Zendaya and Washington’s 12-year age difference noting that it was filmed while Washington was 35, and Zendaya 23. Social Media users also said that it speaks to a wider issue when it comes to castings in Hollywood. However, acknowledging the backlash, Zendaya told E!’s Daily Pop that she understands why people have trouble seeing her as an adult given they ‘grew up with me as a child.’
While referencing her Disney Channel shows Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover, the Spider-Man actress added, “I’ve played a 16-year-old since I was 16. You have to remember people also grew up with me as a child.” Zendaya said, “It’s like watching, I guess, your younger sibling now they’re grown, and you’re not ready for it.” While referring to Euphoria, Zendaya continued, “It’s hard for people to wrap [their heads] around the idea that I am grown in real life, even though I do play a teenager on television still.”
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