Fans Defend Zendaya After a Reporter Called Her “Spider-Man’s Girlfriend” at Challengers London Premiere

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Ahead of its premiere on April 26, 2024, Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist are hard at work promoting Challengers around the world — and fans don’t have time for any sort of disrespect.

Over the weekend, a clip from the Challengers London premiere of the film went viral across social media, and it has fans scratching their heads.

Related: Zendaya Wore Heels With Actual Tennis Balls to Promote Challengers

In the video, a reporter asks Josh O'Connor if he found it "awkward" to shoot romantic scenes with Zendaya while “knowing that she is Spider-Man's girlfriend,” clearly referring to her off-screen relationship with Spider-Man costar Tom Holland.

O'Connor quickly replied: “[It was] not awkward at all! She's great, she's brilliant, she's an amazing actor, and yeah, it was lovely to work with her." But, understandably, fans are not happy with the “moniker” chosen for Zendaya.

While fans appreciated O'Connor’s succinct and composed response and commended him for “handling it well,” many online also criticized the interviewer’s choice of words, calling the question “childish” as well as “stupid” and “disrespectful.”

“2x Emmy winner, Golden Globe winner, and SAG nominee being diminished to just ‘Spider-Man’s girlfriend’ at HER movie premiere?!?! The disrespect is insane,” an X user commented after seeing the clip.

“Actors act, it’s their job. ‘Spider-Man’s girlfriend.’ Zendaya is her own person with her own agency and mind [and] a successful career outside of their relationship,” a second user added. “Why do people act like Zendaya is the first actress to ever have a boyfriend,” a third one posed.

Related: Zendaya Got Candid About Starting Her Own Family and Child Fame Pressures

This isn’t the first time fans have fought against this type of question. Earlier this year, during Dune: Part Two promotions, Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet, who a famously super close off-screen, were repeatedly asked about kissing for the movie. While the actors always kept it professional and answered that it was part of the job, fans online noted that it could get tiring for them.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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