Zendaya’s Met Gala Courtesy for Diana Ross Sparks Fan Frenzy
So, here we are, witnessing Zendaya doing the bare minimum of common courtesy—stepping aside so Diana Ross can hog the spotlight at the Met Gala. Viewers might’ve expected a diva showdown, but instead got a young star actually deferring to an OG icon. In a viral clip from May 2024, as cameras swarmed the lush “The Garden of Time” steps, Zendaya paused mid-strut, tilted her head, and gestured for Ross to take center stage. Cue the collective “aw” from Twitter, as fans showered both ladies with praise (People Magazine shared dozens of glowing tweets) while entertainment outlets like E! Online dug up every frame to prove this wasn’t a fluke.
Naturally, Zendaya’s Met Gala moment exploded across social feeds, with admirers calling it a “masterclass in respect” and “the kind of etiquette we never see on red carpets anymore” (The Hollywood Reporter even highlighted how rare it is to see today’s celebs honor their predecessors so openly). Comments ranged from “Zendaya’s got manners, can we keep her?” to “Diana Ross just got her glow-up 2.0,” revealing that fans not only noticed the gesture, but applauded it as a lesson in class. Sure, stepping aside for someone who’s been a star since vinyl records were a thing isn’t exactly rocket science, but when did celebrities start remembering to show simple courtesy?
Digging deeper, this isn’t Zendaya’s first cue to take a backseat in favor of “elder icons.” Last year she made headlines for gushing about Oprah Winfrey’s trailblazing career at a fashion event. Vogue even quoted her admiration for trailblazers like Halle Berry and Viola Davis, proving that her respect tour is more than a red-carpet stunt. Critics love to nitpick celeb behavior, but this time they had to swallow their words—or at least scroll past dozens of praise-laced memes.
Of course, cynics will argue that every red-carpet gesture is calculated PR. I told you so, right? Yet somehow, Zendaya’s move feels refreshingly genuine—no trademark smirk, no super-model theatrics, just a polite pivot and a spotlight handoff. If Met Gala gestures are graded on sincerity, she’s in the A+ range.
So what’s next after this well-choreographed courtesy call? Will other starlets follow suit and stop photobombing legends? Doubtful. But if you need proof that a modest nod can outperform a million dollars in couture, look no further than Zendaya’s polite side-step. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things—unless someone actually remembers to be nice.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine
E! Online
The Hollywood Reporter
Vogue
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
