At the LA premiere for her upcoming film The Drama on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Zendaya wore a dress that awakened a past drama. Zendaya, who has been teasing the press surrounding her marriage to Tom Holland, made a statement with a white gown, one she’d previously worn to the Oscars in 2015.
While Zendaya’s often been a standout star who doesn’t get into messy drama with the press, her Vivienne Westwood Bridal gown was part of a look that sparked some serious controversy. In 2015, after Zendaya wore the gown at the Oscars with her hair in long dreadlocks, former Fashion Police and E! News host Giuliana Rancic had choice words about the look. Saying at the time that Zendaya looked like she smelled of “patchouli” and “weed”, Rancic was called out by Zendaya and the community at large for her critique.
According to Zendaya, the choice to wear the dress harkens back to the old bridal adage of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” “This is my something old,” Zendaya revealed to Variety. “I thought I’d bring it back and give it new life.” The Drama, the a24 film Zendaya stars in with Robert Pattinson, follows a couple shaken by a revelation in their relationship leading up to their wedding day.
While Rancic, who apologized for her commentary and made it clear she was looking to grow from the moment, has faded into the background, Zendaya used the moment to call out systemic bias and forge ahead. Zendaya choosing to bring the dress back to life in an exciting way makes it clear she’s not only well-beyond the 2015 incident, but moving into a whole new era.
