Zendaya faces backlash for wearing ancient Iranian jewellery at Odyssey event

The Guardian·July 21, 2026Culture

Film star promotes Christopher Nolan film epic wearing gold artefacts dating back almost 3,000 years The Odyssey is a story about a Greek king’s long journey home. But a pair of earrings worn on the new film adaptation’s press tour – and their long separation from their homeland – is sparking controversy. At a photocall in London, Zendaya, who plays the goddess Athena in the Christopher Nolan film, wore a pair of earrings fashioned from Iranian artefacts dating back to 700BC.

← Back to Feed