Zendaya is one of the most talented and beloved actresses in Hollywood today, and her recent renegotiation of her salary on HBO’s hit series Euphoria has once again shone a spotlight on the issue of pay equity in the entertainment industry.
For those who are unfamiliar, Euphoria is a critically acclaimed drama series that follows a group of high school students as they navigate the challenges of adolescence, including drug addiction, sexuality, and mental health. Zendaya plays the lead role of Rue, a troubled teenager struggling with addiction and depression.
When the show first premiered in 2019, Zendaya was reportedly paid $60,000 per episode, which is a respectable amount for a relatively unknown actress at the time. However, after the show became a massive hit and Zendaya’s performance received widespread acclaim, she saw an opportunity to renegotiate her salary for the upcoming second season.
According to multiple reports, Zendaya’s team successfully negotiated a massive pay increase for the actress, who will now reportedly earn $1 million per episode. This is a staggering 16-fold increase from her original salary, and it’s a testament to Zendaya’s talent and the value she brings to the show.
It’s worth noting that Zendaya’s renegotiation was likely made possible by the success of the show and the fact that it’s an ensemble cast, which means that the other actors on the show were also able to negotiate for higher salaries. In other words, Zendaya’s success is not just a result of her individual talent, but also of the collective bargaining power of the entire cast.
Zendaya’s renegotiation is a significant win for pay equity in the entertainment industry, which has long been plagued by gender and racial disparities in compensation. Women and people of color have historically been paid less than their white male counterparts, and it’s only through concerted efforts like collective bargaining and public pressure that these disparities can be rectified.
