Let’s talk about Zendaya and her tango with Dancing With the Stars — the show where celebrities cha-cha for survival while being judged by a panel of serious people with a passion for sequins and spray tans.
Back in 2013, Zendaya, now the effortlessly cool star of Euphoria, was just a young teen. Yep, before she was Rue, she was out there samba-ing her heart out, competing for the coveted mirrorball trophy. She crushed it all the way to the finals and ended up with a very respectable second place, narrowly losing to country star Kellie Pickler, who probably two-stepped her way to victory in a pair of bedazzled boots.
Now, in a recent interview, Zendaya spilled the tea about her relationship with the show. And let’s just say it’s… well, non-existent.
“I haven’t watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on Dancing With the Stars,” Zendaya confessed, chuckling like she had just remembered the time she tried to do a Viennese waltz and almost waltzed into a different dimension. She dropped this bombshell on The Awardist podcast, hosted by EW, and it was clear from her tone: No, she’s not glued to the show’s new seasons with a bag of popcorn.
She added, “To be honest, I didn’t really watch Dancing With the Stars before I was on Dancing With the Stars.” Ouch. But also, fair. Zendaya then pointed out the obvious — teenage her wasn’t exactly the target audience for a show that’s like the Olympics of ballroom dancing. “My grandma loves Dancing With the Stars, that’s her bag,” Zendaya joked. Imagine Grandma Zendaya out there doing the foxtrot in the living room, judging the contestants while sipping tea like it’s serious business.
But let’s not forget, our girl Z was out there twirling under disco balls for weeks on end, and that’s no small feat. She admits, “It was a very stressful experience. I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.” Translation: I lived it. I survived it. And now, I’m leaving it in the past where it belongs, along with the glitter and that one judge who claps a little too enthusiastically.
So, if you were wondering if Zendaya’s been waiting with bated breath for Tyra Banks’ outfits or the latest celebs trying to rhumba without face-planting, the answer is a resounding “nope.” She’s busy being Zendaya, thank you very much.
