logo
Zendaya's brilliant takedown of nasty trolls resurfaces... after keyboard warriors mocked her parents' looks

Zendaya's brilliant takedown of nasty trolls resurfaces... after keyboard warriors mocked her parents' looks

Daily Mail​18-07-2025
Zendaya 's brilliant takedown of cyber bullies targeting her parents has resurfaced one decade later.
In 2015, a Twitter troll posted a picture of the 28-year-old Euphoria actress' mother and father, Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu, branding the pair 'ugly.'
A young Zendaya, who was just 18 at the time, responded by posting a note to the social media site after a barrage of nasty keyboard warriors escalated the derogatory comments.
Addressing the haters, she wrote: '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.
'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 mind.'
As she continued, Zendaya urged the trolls to '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.'
Zendaya is the only child of Claire and Kazembe, although her father has six older children from his previous relationships.
The former couple divorced when the star was a child although she previously revealed that her parents are 'still homies.'
California born Zendaya has a close bond with both of her parents, so close in fact that her dad is also her manager.
Last April, Zendaya opened up about her 'complicated feelings' about growing up in the public eye since getting cast as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up.
The Oakland native, who was a two-time Emmy winner by 27, reflected on her struggles with anxiety after being put in a 'very adult position' as her family's breadwinner before becoming a legal adult.
When asked what her career goals were growing up during an interview with Vogue, the Euphoria star admitted that she finds the question a bit 'funny' as it's something that she is still trying to figure out now.
'I don't know how much of a choice I had. I have complicated feelings about kids and fame and being in the public eye, or being a child actor,' she explained.
'We've seen a lot of cases of it being detrimental.'
As an adult, she said she has found herself thinking: 'Oh, okay, wait a minute: I've only ever done what I've known, and this [acting] is all I've known.'
'I'm almost going through my angsty teenager phase now, because I didn't really have the time to do it before,' she mused.
Zendaya urged trolls to 'look in the mirror and know that you too are beautiful, because such hateful things only stem from internal struggles'
While looking back at her adolescence, Zendaya said: 'I felt like I was thrust into a very adult position: I was becoming the breadwinner of my family very early.'
'There was a lot of role-​reversal happening, and just kind of becoming grown, really,' she noted.
Additionally, she felt a lot of pressure to become 'this perfect being and be everything that everyone needs' her to be and live up to.
The pressure and expectations, still, make it difficult for her to live in the moment or, even, enjoy her current success.
'Now, when I have these moments in my career — like, my first time leading a film that's actually going to be in a theater — I feel like I shrink, and I can't enjoy all the things that are happening to me, because I'm like this,' she said while balling up her fists. 'I'm very tense.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EXCLUSIVE New York beach town is quietly becoming the 'Ibiza of America'
EXCLUSIVE New York beach town is quietly becoming the 'Ibiza of America'

Daily Mail​

time24 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE New York beach town is quietly becoming the 'Ibiza of America'

Paradisal beaches, raving nightlife, and endless parties with killer sunsets. It sounds like Ibiza, but what if we told you it's only a train ride away from New York City. The talk of the town in the Big Apple every summer is the wealthy flocking to their Hamptons homes to enjoy a good workout class, exclusive parties and rub elbows with the world's top one percent. But neighboring Long Island hamlet, Montauk, is where the real party has been this summer. As more music festivals and DJ parties continue to pop up along the idyllic beaches and hotspots around town, causing influencers and ravers alike to flock there, the hamlet of 4,000 is starting to be referred to by some as 'America's Ibiza.' Over Memorial Day and July Fourth weekends, party after party filled with hot young people dancing the night away to up-and-coming DJs like Beau Cruz. Plenty of huge parties take place at Surf Lodge, one of Montauk's go-to places for influencers to let lose against the gorgeous summer sunsets and fall into their expensive hotel rooms on the premises, that start at around $795 a night. Radio host and music curator Bobby Hendrickson, who has 129,000 followers, called Montauk the new Ibiza in a TikTok that has quickly gone viral. He said the New York hotspot resembled the Spanish archipelago due to its rising tourism in the summer, vibey nightlife and day parties, and the wealth of its visitors. Large summer homes along the Montauk shoreline are seen above 'Let's go, Montauk!' the 29-year-old Miami resident told Daily Mail in a phone interview. 'It's got similar vibes to Ibiza.' Both have become well-known places that are filled with celebrities, the wealthy, gorgeous beaches, crazy parties, and lots of money. 'And it's an island,' he said of both places. Hendrickson, who was in Ibiza this week, said nothing will truly compare to the Spanish vacation spot, but he does believe Montauk could develop into a rival. 'Nothing is like Ibiza,' the SiriusXM host said. 'That's its own animal.' Before the Ibiza-esque takeover, the hamlet - located on the farthest eastern point of Long Island - was a sleepy surfer town known for its quaint charm. Now, it's anything but. 'It's people with money,' Hendrickson told Daily Mail. And people who want to party. Nightclub consultant, Jonas Young-Borra, 40, of Manhattan, said Montauk's new popularity is due to social media trends and he doesn't know how long it will last. 'People are chasing the trend of the moment and they'll chase the next,' Young-Borra told Daily Mail It has well-known DJs coming out, like Cheat Codes - who have a song with Demi Lovato - who will be taking over the Surf Lodge. Other beach places like Gurney's Montauk and Duryea's - which has a $97 Cobb salad on its menu - are other popular places. The Montauk Beach House is hosting a Palma Day Club, which features a party at the clubhouse every Saturday with two pools, DJs, and food and drinks. And if influencers are lucky, they'll score tickets to private parties or get to attend brand parties. Last summer, Dolce and Gabbana held a beach pop at the clubhouse and had items for sale. Hendrickson thinks social media has played a huge role in putting Montauk on the map. 'Social media has that effect,' he said. 'It created a hype culture [around Montauk].' Nightclub consultant, Jonas Young-Borra, 40, of Manhattan, said the only comparison is the wealth of those enjoying it as the New York destination is much, much smaller than the Spanish island. He also said that Ibiza, unlike Montauk, was 'built as a party community'. 'Ibiza has monster huge clubs,' he told Daily Mail while driving out to Long Island. 'I'd never call it the Ibiza of New York... As a party destination, you can call it boutique Ibiza.' But he agrees with Hendrickson that it is more of a 'destination now than ever before'. Although Hendrickson and Young-Borra don't know how long the hype will last. 'People are chasing the trend of the moment and they'll chase the next,' Young-Borra told Daily Mail. 'It's a seasonal place,' Hendrickson, who tries to visit Montauk at least once a year, said. 'In the summertime, it's a lot of fun.' A former emergency medicine and pediatrics doctor who has been going out to Montauk for 10 years agreed that the town has seen a 'complete change in culture' more recently. Dr. Fidel Garcia, 47, of Brooklyn, works with Boutique Concierge and Ring My Belle offering partygoers in Montauk at-home IV hydration. He said their services have been a huge hit especially amongst revelers preparing for a big weekend. Like their counterparts in the Hamptons, they too are ordering IV drips to their doors to ward off dreaded hangovers. 'Clients are treating it like an ultimate weekend destination,' he said. 'It's the next big party center. 'There's lots of pregaming,' he told Daily Mail. Clients will often pregame on Thursday and Friday before partying the weekend away. On Saturday and Sunday, recovery efforts begin, he explained. Nearly a third of his clientele are New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s enjoying a summer away from the hot concrete jungle, while others come from different states and countries. The hangover drip, which retails for $350 and is delivered to one's door, is in 'high demand' during the summer months, Garcia said. The NAD+ drip, which retails for $850, is also 'having its moment,' the former emergency medicine and pediatrics doctor told Daily Mail. The majority of those looking for party bender recovery are young adults, while the wealthy elite between the ages of 30 and 50 are more focused on health-related aspects, he added.

Secrets of the 'world's greatest hotel' after insane 8-year transformation but it remains steeped in nostalgia
Secrets of the 'world's greatest hotel' after insane 8-year transformation but it remains steeped in nostalgia

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Secrets of the 'world's greatest hotel' after insane 8-year transformation but it remains steeped in nostalgia

The infamous New York City hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, has reopened its doors after a massive eight-year renovation gave the nostalgic building a modern facelift - but the essence of old Park Avenue money hasn't disappeared. After eight years of renovations, delays, and ownership scandals, the iconic hotel is back, with many nods to its roots. The Waldorf Astoria has a long history of influencing culture, fashion, and architecture, donning a unique Art Deco style that put the hotel on the map. Conrad Hilton, the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain, once referred to the Waldorf Astoria as 'the greatest of them all'. The newest version of the hotel has significantly cut down on rooms from 1,400 to only 375, increasing the exclusivity and making it even more difficult to book a stay. The reduction has also made the rooms some of the largest in the city, starting at 570 square feet. The hotel's infamous Peacock Alley, which once connected the Waldorf and the Astoria before it became one building, has been restored to its original grandeur. The alley got its name from the promenade that guests would take to show off their wealth. Now that the building is one hotel, Peacock Alley has become the Waldorf Astoria's breathtaking lounge. The grand Waldorf clock is the star of the show in the center of the lounge. It was once commissioned by Queen Victoria for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Also featured prominently in Peacock Alley is a beautiful Steinway grand piano that once belonged to the famous American composer Cole Porter. Porter composed scores for several Broadway shows, including Kiss Me, Kate, and the 1965 film, High Society, which starred Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. He lived in the Waldorf Astoria from 1934 until he died in 1964. The tribute to him goes beyond decoration, as the hotel plans to have a pianist play the instrument for guests in the lobby. Setting the scene The doors to the Waldorf Astoria have seen many celebrities and political figures, including Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, and even Queen Elizabeth II, walk through them. The hotel is steeped in history, with the Grand Ballroom being the first venue to host the Tony Awards. Monroe is said to have met former President John F. Kennedy at the awards ceremony. The Waldorf Astoria also introduced the world to the famous Waldorf salad, a classic fruit and nut salad created by the maitre d'hotel Oscar Tschirky in 1893. The hotel's kitchen is responsible for producing other staples like red velvet cake and eggs Benedict. Lemuel Benedict, a retired Wall Street stockbroker, is believed to have ordered the combination to cure his hangover, which inspired Tschirky to popularize the dish. The Waldorf Astoria was the first to offer 24-hour room service for its guests and was even the first to start hiring female chefs, starting in 1931, according to Culture Now. In addition to food, the Waldorf Astoria was famous for cocktails. One of the bartenders, Johnnie Solon, invented the Bronx Cocktail behind the hotel's bar. The cocktail is a mix of gin, orange juice, and a dash of vermouth. History riddled with drama The hotel's story begins in 1897 when cousins William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV built two separate hotels on Fifth Avenue. The cousins turned their mansions into hotels during a bitter feud to one-up each other. A cruel twist came in 1929 when they were forced to demolish their hotels for construction of the Empire State Building. They then made a deal to combine the Waldorf and the Astoria into one hotel, moving the location to Park Avenue. The grand opening came two years later when the Waldorf Astoria debuted as a 47-story skyscraper with a coveted Grand Ballroom that saw Frank Sinatra perform and Albert Einstein speak. In 1977, Conrad Hilton achieved his dream of acquiring the property, but sold it to Chinese firm Anbang Insurance Group in 2014 for a whopping $1.95 billion in 2014. Over a decade later, the sale remains the most expensive hotel sale in history. In 2017, the insurance group began renovations. However, just two years later, the firm's chairman, Wu Xiaohui, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for fundraising fraud and embezzlement by the Chinese government. Anbang declared bankruptcy, and the Waldorf Astoria was acquired by another Chinese firm called Dajia Insurance Group. The legal woes further delayed the hotel's current renovations, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 pushed it back even further. A new era With a rich history of scandal, art, culture, and wealth, the Waldorf Astoria has now entered a new era. The renovation was overseen by architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, one of the leading architecture firms in the country. The team told the New York Times that they spent years sifting through archival photos to create new designs that rang true to the hotel's origin. Chef Michael Anthony, who previously won a Michelin Star at New York's Gramercy Tavern, is spearheading the cuisine at the Waldorf Astoria's Lex Yard restaurant. The Waldorf Astoria has consistently been at the forefront of cocktail innovation, with drinks such as the Rob Roy cocktail and Bronx Cocktail originating there. Pictured a bartender makes a Rob Roy at the hotel on Wednesday The hotel also features a massive 30,000 square foot spa with a sprawling fitness center. The brand is staying true to its ballroom roots, reimagining the Grand Ballroom to accommodate new technology. The bordering rooms have undergone renovations to make them soundproof, so guests can still rent them out during events. A gaudy crystal chandelier that used to be the centerpiece of the ballroom has been removed and replaced with a modern lighting system. Frank Mahan, a principal architect with SOM, told the Times that the lighting of the ballroom, 'never quite worked the way it was intended'. The chandelier's harsh lighting damaged the paneling and metalwork of the ballroom, but now light comes through from coves in the ceiling. The hotel's third floor features a stunning hallway called the Silver Corridor, connecting the Grand Ballroom, the Astor Room, and the Basildon Room. The hallway's grandiose chandeliers light up the jaw-dropping murals on the ceiling, painted by Edward Emerson Simmons. Guests are also promised ultimate comfort in their rooms, which feature dressing areas and private bar areas. The Waldorf Astoria is officially open for guests and has rooms available starting at a whopping $1,500 a night.

Comic-Con goes interstellar with 'Project Hail Mary,' 'Star Trek' updates
Comic-Con goes interstellar with 'Project Hail Mary,' 'Star Trek' updates

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Comic-Con goes interstellar with 'Project Hail Mary,' 'Star Trek' updates

Comic-Con is headed to space for its third day. Saturday's biggest presentations at the pop culture extravaganza will be for 'Project Hail Mary,' which stars Ryan Gosling on an interstellar mission to save humanity, and for the next series in the 'Star Trek' franchise. Fans are also getting a sneak peek at 'Coyote vs. ACME,' a hybrid live-action and animated project that was shelved by Warner Bros. in a cost-cutting move but will get a theatrical release in 2026. The movie features John Cena, who is also a star of the DC series 'Peacemaker,' which will have a presentation Saturday in Comic-Con's massive Hall H. 'Project Hail Mary" is an adaptation of the book by Martin Weir, whose book 'The Martian' was adapted by Ridley Scott in 2015. An estimated 135,000 people — many in costumes — are expected to attend Comic-Con 2025, which runs through Sunday in downtown San Diego. So far, fans have gotten previews of 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2,'the upcoming FX series 'Alien: Earth' and 'Predator: Badlands,' which will be in theaters in November. 'Coyote vs. Acme' coming to theaters in August 2026 Wile E. Coyote is getting his day in court – and theaters. The stars of 'Coyote vs. Acme' delivered a rousing presentation of a movie that at one point wasn't going to be released. The underdog story – both of the movie and Coyote – was a running theme of the panel. But rather than direct ire at Warner Bros., the real-world studio that shelved the project, the panel focused on the fictional Acme Corp. 'This is purely an Acme decision … and I am saying this for legal purposes,' moderator Paul Scheer said at the start of the panel. The movie is a hybrid of animation and live action and is based on a 1990 New Yorker article that satirized a legal complaint filed by Coyote against Acme, the maker of the TNT, detonators, rocket shoes, catapults and other products that consistently backfire during the Coyote's fruitless attempts to catch the Roadrunner. Laughter filled Hall H, the massive 6,000-seat venue as fans watched a montage of Coyote being blown up, flattened and falling into chasms in a scene set to Johnny Cash's cover of 'Hurt.' Coyote is replaying the moments in his lair when an ad for a personal injury lawyer appears on TV. They also played six minutes of the movie, including a scene of opening statements in the case in which Coyote's lawyer, Will Forte, accidentally unleashes a rocket skate into the courtroom, setting Coyote and the judge's robes on fire. John Cena plays a slick Acme lawyer who wins over the jury, which includes a cartoon character, quickly. Forte said he didn't think the movie would ever get to audiences. 'I'm pretty speechless. You think back to the journey that this movie has taken. I had kind of given up hope at a certain point,' Forte said. At one point, his comments were interrupted by a man playing an Acme lawyer who stormed into Hall H with cease-and-desist letters. Director Dave Green said the movie conforms to famed animator Chuck Jones' rules for the struggle between the Coyote and Roadrunner, which include the bird always staying on the road and the Coyote being ultimately more humiliated than hurt when he falls, is crushed or gets blown up by TNT. The movie, which features cameos from numerous Looney Tunes characters like Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety and Bugs Bunny, will be released on Aug. 28, 2026. Ketchup Entertainment teamed up with Warner Bros. on the film and in the release of 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store