Zendaya has always maintained a carefully guarded private life, a quiet contrast to her soaring fame. Beyond her relationship with Tom Holland, she offers only glimpses into her world, typically reserved for birthdays or project announcements. This deliberate distance has, perhaps unsurprisingly, fueled speculation and projection from fans and observers – the latest being whispers of a rift with herEuphoriaco-star, Sydney Sweeney.
The rumors began with reports from sources connected to the HBO series. These insiders claimed Zendaya was allegedly “refusing” joint press appearances with Sweeney for the upcoming season, and that the two would actively avoid being photographed together. The suggestion was a deliberate attempt to distance herself, but from what exactly?
The two actresses have shared the screen for six years, Zendaya as the troubled Rue Bennett and Sweeney as the complex Cassie Howard. According to these sources, the tension wasn’t born on set, but stemmed from deeply opposing political beliefs – a divide neither actress has publicly acknowledged.
Sydney Sweeney found herself at the center of political controversy earlier this year. An American Eagle ad campaign featuring her, with the simple tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” ignited a firestorm of criticism. Many drew parallels between the phrasing and harmful rhetoric associated with eugenics and white supremacy.
Further fueling the debate, reports surfaced detailing Sweeney’s voting record, identifying her as a registered Republican. Even former President Trump weighed in, expressing his approval of the advertisement after learning of the controversy. In 2022, she also addressed backlash after photos emerged from a party where family members wore politically charged clothing.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted her father wearing a “Blue Lives Matter” T-shirt – a slogan directly responding to the Black Lives Matter movement – and others sporting red caps reminiscent of Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign, altered to read “Make 60 Great Again.” These images sparked intense discussion and scrutiny.
Zendaya, in stark contrast, has been vocal in her opposition to Trump. Following his initial election victory in 2016, she expressed profound disappointment and fear on social media. She confessed to being “speechless, petrified, heartbroken and weary,” admitting she hadn’t realized the extent of division within the country.
Insiders suggest this fundamental political disagreement is the root of the alleged conflict. They explained that Zendaya faces a precarious situation, fearing any public association with Sweeney could be interpreted as tacit approval of her views or a dismissal of the ad controversy.
Despite the swirling rumors, neither Zendaya nor Sweeney has ever publicly addressed their relationship, leaving the “feud” largely confined to online speculation. The narrative gained renewed momentum when Sweeney spoke toVanity Fair, with her comments about women undermining each other being interpreted by some as a veiled criticism of Zendaya.
Sweeney stated, “It’s very disheartening to see women tear other women down. Especially when women who are successful in other avenues of their industry see younger talent working really hard – hoping to achieve whatever dreams that they may have – and then trying to bash and discredit any work that they’ve done.” However, given the actresses are only a year apart in age, the comment seems unlikely to be directed at Zendaya.
Amidst the fan theories, another possibility has emerged: could the rumors be a calculated publicity strategy to generate buzz forEuphoriaSeason 3? It wouldn’t be the first time Sweeney has been linked to a savvy marketing campaign.
Glen Powell publicly praised Sweeney for orchestrating the promotional campaign for their film,Anyone But You, which cleverly hinted at a real-life romance between the co-stars. While Sweeney has demonstrated a knack for generating attention, the evidence surrounding the alleged Zendaya feud remains far less concrete.
