It's been a while since we last saw Zendaya and Tom Holland grace a red carpet together, so we were naturally hoping that could all change at the Met Gala 2024 (which, lest we forget, Zendaya co-hosted) - yet alas, it was not to be.
Though Tom has been spotted supporting his girlfriend during her recent Dune 2 and Challengers press tours, the couple rarely steps out on the red carpet together unless it's for Spider-Man promotions, in which they have both starred together.
Earlier this year, when Zendaya presented at the 2024 Oscars, many wondered if Tom would be her plus one, but nope, our hopes were dashed when she arrived on the red carpet alone. However, it later emerged that Mr Holland had other commitments and was spotted attending a charity gala in London on the same weekend. But the Met no-show? That's a biggie. BUT, we think we might have found the reason.
While usually the Met Gala guest list is top secret, we of course knew that Zendaya was going to be making her long-awaited return to the Met Gala ahead of time when she was announced as a co-host alongside Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez and Anna Wintour. The last time she attended the event was in 2019.
But do the co-hosts not get plus-ones? Was that the reason?
Nope again. Although it's customary for the co-chairs to pose for some solo shots on the red carpet, they can, of course, bring guests. (Although it should be noted that co-host J-Lo, was also flying solo this year, sans her husband, Ben Affleck.)
Blake Lively, who served as a co-chair at the 2022 Met Gala, brought along her husband, Ryan Reynolds, to accompany her at the event, so if Tom's schedule was free, he could have done the same for Zendaya.
This brings us to the point: Tom probably was not free for is set to star in a musical adaptation of Romeo & Juliet in London's West End starting May 11, so he likely has some sort of rehearsals or previews planned leading up to that day, which happened to coincide with the first Monday in May.
However in the absence of her bae, Zendaya had teased she wouldn't be alone at the Met ahead of May 6, confirming her Challengers co-stars Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist will also attend fashion's biggest night. On the red carpet, she was also joined by her longtime stylist, Law Roach, as well as her BFF and PA, Darnell Appling, who also has a role in Challengers.
The first of three, at least.
And of course, on the night, Zendaya graced the carpet not once but twice. First in a Maison Margiela Artisanal look by John Galliano before changing into an archival Givenchy period gown. She even changed into a third look, another custom Celia Kritharioti, which she's been wearing a lot lately, to host the actual ceremony.
And while Tom might not have been there in person, he still found a way to show his support for his girlfriend. On the night he took to his Stories to share a golf injury (also another reason for the no show?), he made sure to reserve a spot for her on his main Instagram feed the day after the Ball. Holland shared Z's first red carpet look of the night with the caption: “😍😍😍." Sometimes an emoji — or three — is worth a thousand words.
This article originally appeared in Teen Vogue.
