Tom Holland, Zendaya: A ‘private but not secret’ love

Tom Holland and Zendaya are the epitome of “private but not secret.”

It all began with a sparkling diamond ring on Zendaya’s left hand at an awards ceremony, sparking curiosity. Now, they’re the real-life proof of Spider-Man and MJ’s love, balancing their relationship on their own terms while sharing only the moments that truly matter with fans.

As Zendaya once said, “I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love.”

And that’s exactly what they’ve done — living out their love story while keeping the most personal details private, from engagement to friendship on set, all the while juggling life in the spotlight.

Here’s the timeline of Zendaya and Tom Holland’s relationship:

July 2017

The duo first starred together in Spider-Man: Homecoming, with Tom as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Zendaya as MJ. Their chemistry during the press tour sparked dating rumors, but they played it cool.

August 2017

Zendaya dismissed the speculation, telling Variety, “We are friends. He’s a great dude and one of my best friends.”

July 2021

Years of “are-they-or-aren’t-they?” rumors came to a head in July 2021 when paparazzi caught the pair kissing in a car at a stoplight in LA. The internet collectively lost it. Holland and Zendaya didn’t comment directly, but their actions said it all.

September 2021

Tom shared a sweet birthday post calling Zendaya “My MJ,” and she responded with a red-carpet slay at the Venice Film Festival, earning Tom’s iconic flame emoji comment.

December 2021

During the Spider-Man: No Way Home press tour, Zendaya proudly called Tom “my Spider-Man,” solidifying their status as a power couple.

June 2023

They went viral again for fangirling at Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour in Poland, proving they’re just like us when it comes to Queen Bey.

July 2023

Tom opened up on the Smartless podcast, saying, “I’m lucky to have someone like Zendaya in my life,” highlighting their shared understanding of navigating fame.

August 2023

Zendaya reflected on maintaining balance between her private life and public persona, saying, “I can’t not live my life and love the person I love.”

January 2024

After a brief unfollowing drama on Instagram by Zendaya, which was basically a strategic brand move, Tom shut down breakup rumors, calling them “absolutely not true.”

November 2024

The couple enjoyed a cozy date night at Foxhole Bar in Boston, with Tom sharing a sweet snap of Zendaya on Instagram, complete with heart-eye emojis.

December 2024

Tom revealed he spent Christmas with Zendaya’s family, hinting at plans to bring both families together for future holidays.

January 2025

At the Golden Globes, Zendaya debuted a stunning diamond ring, sparking engagement rumors. 

The ring is reportedly a 5.02-carat East-West Cushion Diamond Button Back Ring by Jessica McCormack.

The next morning, TMZ confirmed the news: Tom had proposed in an intimate setting during the holidays.