Recognized for her fierce performances, striking beauty, and blunt honesty, Zendaya opened up to fans for a rare behind-the-scenes look into her life in a candid forwarded interview for the May 2024 issue of Vogue. In a frank interview, she discussed the emotional challenges of being famous, her relationship with fellow actor Tom Holland, and her changing plans for the future, including wanting to start a family one day.

Fame has been a double-edged sword for Zendaya. On the one hand, it’s given her a platform, it’s given her influence, it’s given her the ability to turn her artistic interests into something that she can pursue. On the other, that’s left her open to a level of public criticism that can be as overwhelming as it is isolating. Looking back on her rise to stardom at such a young age, Zendaya admitted that, though she has become healthier and more comfortable with fame over the years, it was not without its emotional cost.

On some days, she said, the scrutiny of being eternally monitored can seem crushing. The cameras and public commentary have rendered even the most ordinary aspects of life performative, from red carpets to coffee runs. For Zendaya, fashion has served a particular purpose in helping her through these experiences.

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This relationship of protectiveness with fashion has provided her with a way of managing her public image and sense of self. By wearing daring outfits, she has turned control in an environment that generally degrades celebrities until they become weakened versions of themselves, their individuality erased by a culture of personal brand management. From appearances at the Met Gala to speaking out on behalf of social causes, Zendaya manifests her identity through style, a form of empowerment and self-expression.

Speaking of love, Zendaya had similar reflections. And then there’s her relationship with actor Tom Holland, which has fans worldwide in a fuss not simply for their chemistry on-screen but also for their low-key approach to discussing their off-screen romance. The couple has long kept their relationship details close to the vest, but Zendaya spoke frankly about their relationship in this interview.

Zendaya explained that their bond is rooted in profound trust and mutual respect and that they’ve fought to raise a strong foundation outside of fame. She smiled when speaking about the future, noting that she and Holland are ambitious to start a family one day.

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“We speak about it a lot,” she said. “We’re definitely of the same accord. But we’re also mindful of the variables in raising children in the public eye.” Zendaya’s upbringing in the entertainment business has provided her insight into young stars’ pressures. She said she was frightened by what the fame could do to future children she might have, adding that it’s something that gives her pause.

Still, Zendaya remains hopeful about the future, with a clear intention. She’s not hurrying, but she is making progress. Taking on new roles, stepping behind the camera, and, eventually, embracing motherhood, she’s focused on creating a life that reflects her values. Zendaya’s interview showed a woman who, amid her fame, is carving out space for authenticity and love in a world that hardly makes space for either. Her vulnerability, tempered by her strength, creates the portrait of a star who is respected for her humanity.

After reality TV sensation Hazel-E made a bombshell statement during her recent Unwine With Tasha K interview, Fabolous ended up at the heart of controversy after she said one of his exes down in Houston died from cervical cancer caused by an undiagnosed STI. That conversation, which was quickly shared on Instagram via a widely circulated clip, was widely criticized. Some people called out Hazel-E for being insensitive and speaking on the private medical history of a deceased woman, while others questioned the legitimacy of her statement as a whole.

In either case, the online chatter was quick and heated. However, Hazel-E doubled down later in the comments, trying to redirect the focus to women’s health awareness. “Allegedly is what I heard from a veryyyyyyyy reliable source… bv, hpv… tomatoes tomatoes,” she wrote, downplaying the backlash while saying her real goal was to bring attention to important topics of women’s health. It was damage already done, and it’s safe to say Fabolous wasn’t here for that. While he hasn’t penned an epic screed about the situation, sources close to the rapper tell us that he is furious behind the scenes, saying that Hazel-E really crossed a line, including someone close to him, especially under such uncertain and intimate circumstances.

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The situation gets at a bigger conversation happening in hip-hop. Hazel-E’s effort to turn the whole thing into some PSA may have been well-motivated, but going after someone connected to Fabolous with serious health allegations finds the balance between social media’s fodder for consumption and clout chasing, and now, a conversation about respect and consent in the digital age. Although Fabolous hasn’t clapped back with the same volume as the rumor, his lack of commentary is just as loud. In an era when everyone’s business is but a click away, this latest scrap is a reminder that in hip-hop, even the touchiest of subjects are often best broached or left untouched with a little more delicacy and a lot less guesswork.