Zendaya Explains Why She Could Never Be A Pop Star

BY Erika Marie 3.8K Views
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Zendaya
The "Euphoria" icon appreciates that acting gives her a "level of anonymity" that isn't allowed in music.

She may only be in her mid-twenties, but Zendaya has spent a good portion of her life in the limelight. From child television star to one of the most sought-after entertainers in the industry, the award-winning actress's fame only increases as each year moves forward. There was a time when Zendaya was focused on her music career and even signed a deal with Hollywood Records. She has only released one studio album but has shared almost a dozen singles, collaborating with artists like Chris Brown, Bella Thorne, and Zac Efron.

Variety hosted a one-on-one interview between Andrew Garfield and the Spider-Man star where she admitted that she purposefully chose to shift her primary focus to her acting career because it offered "a level of anonymity" that music doesn't allow. 


I was talking to [Euphoria creator Sam Levinson] about this earlier. I was like I don’t know if I could ever be a pop star," she said. "It’s because as an actor, there’s a level of anonymity that I get to have, which I really like. And I get to sort my stuff, whatever that is, through a character and nobody needs to know about it. Whereas in other forms and other mediums, it’s all you all the time. I like the idea that somebody else, meaning Rue, gets to take on that stuff and I can..."

Garfield interrupted to say, "Boundaries."

"Yeah, boundaries," Zendaya added. "Learning what’s for me." Revisit Zendaya's "Something New" featuring Chris Brown and check out a few stills from her Variety feature with Andrew Garfield below.



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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.