Zendaya praised for perfect response after stranger claimed they’d ‘cry’ if their parents looked like hers

Zendaya has previously hit back at online trolls who targeted her family, but unfortunately, it’s far from the only time she’s had to contend with scathing comments from critics.

Now 28, the actress is one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, with a packed slate of upcoming projects including Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Denis Villeneuve’s hotly anticipated Dune: Part Three, and The Drama.

Alongside acting, she’s also forged a career as a singer and model, and was even named one of the most beautiful women in the world, according to a Golden Ratio scientific study.

Despite her success, Zendaya hasn’t been immune to online hate. Back in 2015, the former Disney Channel star faced a wave of cruel comments after sharing a selfie with her parents, Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman.

Both of her parents, who previously worked as public school teachers, have long been credited with helping keep her grounded — something Zendaya herself has openly acknowledged.

Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, she once said: “I gotta give it up to my parents. I’m really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything.”

Zendaya defends her parents after cruel troll comments on family photo

However, when she posted the family photo online, some users responded with deeply offensive remarks, targeting her parents’ looks. One person wrote: “Her parents really ugly I really would cry,” while another added: “They made a gorgeous a** child lol.”

However, the fiery acting star didn’t stay silent. She responded directly, writing: “First, I’m gonna pray for you. While you’re so concerned about what my parents look like, please know that these are two of the most selfless people in the world.”

She went on to defend their character and life’s work, adding: “They have chosen to spend their entire life, not worried about trivial things such as looks and insulting people’s parents on Twitter, but instead became educators who have dedicated their lives to teaching, cultivating and filling young, shallow minds.”

Encouraging kindness, she concluded: “So please, log out, go to school, hug a teacher and read a textbook… and while you’re at it, go look in the mirror and know that you too are beautiful, because such hateful things only stem from internal struggles. Bless you.” She signed off the message from herself and her “beautiful family.”

Star shuts down Aaliyah biopic rumours and addresses online hate backlash

The incident wasn’t the only time Zendaya addressed criticism head-on. In 2020, she spoke out after stepping away from a planned biopic about late singer Aaliyah, shutting down speculation that online backlash played a role.

“The reason why I chose not to do the Aaliyah movie had nothing to do with the haters, or people telling me that I ‘couldn’t do it,’ or ‘wasn’t talented enough’ or I wasn’t ‘Black enough,’” she said.

Featured Image. Credit: art of Spring/Summer