Why Zendaya and Tom Holland Skipped the 2023 Met Gala
Despite rumors saying both Zendaya and Tom Holland would be at tonight’s Met Gala, neither appeared on the red carpet. It would have been their red carpet debut as a couple, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for that.
Their absence is disappointing to fans but understandable, particularly for Zendaya, given how far away she was from New York City on Thursday, the last time she was seen.
At the time, the actress made a big appearance at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. She wore a gorgeous gold gown to accept the Star of the Year award at the convention. Two days earlier, she wore a backless plunge vest for CinemaCon’s Dune: Part 2 presentation.
Both Zendaya and Holland didn’t post on their social media today or give a hint to their whereabouts.
Although the two have been increasingly public with their relationship, they have said they wish to keep the bulk of it private. Zendaya also addressed how she has dealt with public attention to Vogue Italia last summer.
“Recently, I’ve had more of a change happening in regards to reactions when I meet people or how people interact with me on a daily basis, because for so long I’ve been able to maintain a little bit of anonymity in a way where I could go off and do things and still live a pretty normal life,” she started. “Of course, it comes with new sets of challenges and pressures, but I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I started when I was quite young. So thankfully I’ve had a little bit of time to ease and grow my experience in a way that wasn’t just completely an overnight change. I’m always adjusting to it and trying to be grateful for it all in the end, because it means that people are clearly resonating with the work that I’m doing, and that means a lot to me.”
She added that longtime fans do give her space, though: “Many of them have grown with me and have watched me evolve in different parts of my life and career and with that, many of us being around the same age, have similar outlooks on life, similar thoughts or even just hopes and wishes for the future, whether it be for my career or the world. They’re really understanding that I’m human, even the hardcore ones, and they want me to be happy and I genuinely feel that from them. They’re really respectful of my boundaries and the things that I choose to keep a little bit more private and keep for myself.”
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
