Zendaya hasn't Watched "Dancing With the Stars" Since she Competed On It: "It Was a Very Stressful Experience"
by Jessica Wang
October 3, 2024


It appears Zendaya had a much better time with tennis lessons than the foxtrot.

The Challengers and "Euphoria" star is looking back on her experience competing on "Dancing With the Stars" on the newest episode of Entertainment Weekly's The Awardist podcast, revealing that she has not tuned into the long-running dance competition series since she was on it.

But she has a pretty good reason for it.




"I have not watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on," Zendaya says, laughing. "I didn't really watch Dancing With the Stars before I was on Dancing With the Stars. I don't think I was the target demographic. My grandma loves Dancing with the Stars, that's her bag.

But yeah, I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, I don't think I'm gonna be watching this anymore.”




At just 16, the actress-singer-dancer competed on season 16 back in 2013. Then a Disney Channel fixture known for her roles on "Shake It Up" and "K.C. Undercover", Zendaya was actually close to winning the mirror ball trophy, coming in second as runner-up with dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy.

In first place was Kellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough.

https://ew.com/zendaya-hasnt-watched-dancing-with-the-stars-since-competing-8722877

Zendaya Says she’s “Still Harboring A Little Animosity” for Losing on "Dancing with the Stars"
by Armando Tinoco
January 3, 2025


Zendaya is still not OK about her loss on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2013.

The "Euphoria" actress was the runner-up in Season 16 of the ABC ballroom dancing competition, and she lost the Mirror Ball Trophy to Kellie Pickler and her dance partner Derek Hough.



“Listen, I’m still harboring a little animosity about that. I felt that loss,” Zendaya told W after the interviewer said she should’ve won that season. “I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful. Being on live television every week? It’s so scary.”

“I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t. I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”

https://deadline.com/2025/01/zendaya-harboring-a-little-animosity-losing-dancing-with-the-stars-1236245803/