Marriage speculation around Zendaya and her fiancé Tom Holland is showing no signs of slowing down, and the actress did little to quiet the chatter at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon on March 12 in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old arrived at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel with her signature low key energy, quietly slipping past reporters after a brief moment on the red carpet. She did not speak during the formal program, but was fully present in the room, dancing to a surprise performance by Tyrese and cheering loudly for the event’s honorees.
Then came the moment that got everyone talking.
The host put her on the spot and she delivered
Luncheon host Marsai Martin, known for her role on Blackish, addressed the wedding rumors head on early in the event, playfully asking Zendaya for some kind of signal about her relationship status. The crowd was already buzzing, given that Zendaya’s longtime stylist Law Roach had made waves less than two weeks earlier when he appeared to confirm on the red carpet of the Actor Awards that the couple had already married.
Zendaya laughed off the question good naturedly, covered her face with her hands and then raised both hands to reveal glittering bands on each ring finger. The ballroom erupted. It was the kind of moment that answered nothing and everything all at once, which, for someone as famously private as Zendaya, felt very much on brand.
A dress with serious history made its return
Beyond the ring moment, Zendaya turned heads in a white floral Eugene Alexander minidress with an asymmetrical silhouette that carries some serious fashion history. The same design was previously worn by Whitney Houston and by Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie Bradshaw, making it a piece with both cultural and pop culture weight. True to form, Zendaya wore it effortlessly.
Honorees and highlights from the afternoon
The luncheon brought together some of Hollywood’s most celebrated women for an afternoon of recognition ahead of the 98th Academy Awards. Among those honored were Kerry Washington, who received a tribute from Oscar nominee Delroy Lindo, and Chase Infiniti, the breakout star of “One Battle After Another, who was celebrated by her co star Teyana Taylor.
The female cast and creative team behind Sinners were also recognized during the event, with Michael B. Jordan and filmmaker Ryan Coogler on hand to introduce them. The genre blending film is currently in the running for a remarkable 16 Oscar nominations heading into the ceremony this weekend, and it was clearly the film of the moment in the room. Washington devoted a significant portion of her remarks to praising it, and Oscar nominee Wunmi Mosaku was spotted taking selfies with fans including Game of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel.
A comedian’s return to a sensitive topic drew mixed reactions
Comedian Deon Cole made a surprise appearance onstage during the afternoon and returned to a subject he had already tackled at the NAACP Image Awards earlier this month, specifically the incident at the British Academy Film Awards where Jordan and Lindo were directed a racial slur by Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson. Cole’s earlier comments on the matter had drawn backlash, but he doubled down at the Essence event, framing it as a matter of standing up for the Black community.
The moment added an unexpected edge to an otherwise celebratory after noon. The 98th Academy Awards air March 15 on ABC and Hulu at 7 p.m. ET.
