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After years of speculation, Spider-Man: Far From Home costars Zendaya and Tom Holland finally confirmed their relationship, sharing a romantic kiss while driving through Los Angeles this week. While this wasn’t supposed to be a public declaration, paparazzi caught the two smooching at a stop light, sending fans into a frenzy after hoping they’d get together for so long.
While this is the first time we’ve witnessed actual PDA from the couple, they’ve been romantically linked for years now--let’s take a look back at a complete timeline of their relationship.
Zendaya and Tom Holland attend a red carpet for Spider-Man: Homecoming
Zendaya and Tom Holland met in 2016 while on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Holland’s character actually had another love interest in the film, Laura Harrier, but when the end of the film introduced Zendaya’s character as MJ, it let all Spider-Man fanatics know she would be Peter Parker’s girlfriend later on in the franchise.
Tom Holland and Zendaya attend the Spider-Man: Homecoming premiere in Barcelona.
Just three days before the pair’s first major public event together at 2016 Comic-Con, Tom posted a picture of himself in the pool with Zendaya and another friend, suggesting they were already hanging out in their down time. That’s when speculation began that these two had a budding romance.
Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Laura Harrier attend a Spider-Man: Homecoming Press Junket
In July 2017, a source told E! News that Zendaya and Tom Holland were dating, but keeping it private. About a week later, Zendaya shut down the rumors of their relationship when she responded to claims that they vacationed together.
“Wait wait...my favorite is when it says we go on vacations together HA!” she tweeted. “I haven’t been on a vacation in years! hbu @TomHolland1996???” To which Tom replied, “Does the press tour count?”
Zendaya and Tom Holland spotted filming scenes for Spider-Man: Far From Home in New York City on October 12, 2018
In September 2018, Skai Jackson’s mom, Kiya Cole, appeared to expose the couple when she replied to Just Jared’s Instagram post that mentioned her “rumored real-life boyfriend Tom Holland.”
Kiya wrote, “Yes. It’s true. They been on the low for a while.” She later backtracked, writing, “Nothing posted or said was me. I could [sic] care less or know who was dating who. Please stop asking.”
The cast of Spider-Man: Far From Home stop by Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In May 2019, Tom got everyone talking as he posted a picture with Zendaya and their Spider-Man co-star, Jacob Batalon. Why? He tagged Zendaya over his crotch.
After fans went absolutely crazy, Zendaya assured everyone it was just a misunderstanding, commenting, “I’m assuming because you don’t know how to work ig, that’s the reasoning behind my name placement,” with a lot of laughing-crying emojis.
Zendaya and Tom Holland attend San Diego Comic Con.
A few months later, Tom addressed the rumors about his relationship status head on, though he didn’t mention Zendaya directly.
In an interview with ELLE in June 2019, Holland said he was not in a relationship because he was focusing on work. He did add, however, that he is “definitely a relationship person” in general, saying, ”I’m not the fleeting type at all; it’s not my way of life.”
Tom Holland and Zendaya attend the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards
In August 2019, all hopes of a “Tomdaya” romance were squashed when Zendaya and her Euphoria co-star Jacob Elordi were spotted together in Greece.
While Z shut down the rumors at the time, calling him her “best friend,” they were photographed showing some PDA in New York City in the beginning of 2020, all but confirming their relationship.
Tom Holland and Zendaya attend the Spider-Man: Homecoming premiere in Madrid.
In May 2020, Tom reportedly got a girlfriend himself, The Spanish Princess actress Nadia Parkes. According to The Daily Mail, the couple had been together for more than three months and were quarantining together at his home in London.
Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Jake Gyllenhaal promote Spider-Man: Far From Home at The Tower Of London
In November 2020, Jacob Elordi started dating Kaia Gerber, confirming the fact that if he ever was dating Zendaya--it was over.
The Spider-Man: Far From Home Cast Light Up The Empire State Building
A few months after Zendaya was presumed single, Tom seemed to enter the dating pool as well.
In February 2021, Tom shared some interesting comments about breakups, though he didn’t explicitly confirm that he broke up with Nadia. In an interview with Esquire, he admitted he was worried about the possibility of his followers going after an ex.
“If you were to break up with that person, people will have their own opinions as to why you broke up or whose fault it was,” he said. “And me being a famous person and having people that love me around the world, if I were to break up with a poor girl, they might think it was her fault. And I wouldn’t want that pressure to be on someone because of me.”
Seems like someone who’s just as famous as him is a better fit, eh?
Tom Holland and Zendaya at the premiere of Spider-Man: Far From Home
On July 2, 2021, Tom and Zendaya finally confirmed their long-rumored romance by locking lips. The Marvel co-stars stars were photographed kissing during a car ride in Los Angeles, which seemed to confirm their romantic relationship. They were later seen visiting Z’s mom at her home in Silverlake.
Neither star has commented publicly about their relationship just yet, but fans couldn’t be happier to finally see these two together.