Zendaya faces backlash for wearing ancient Iranian jewellery at Odyssey event

The Guardian · July 21, 2026 Culture

Film star promotes Christopher Nolan film epic wearing gold artefacts dating back almost 3,000 years The Odyssey is a story about a Greek king’s long journey home. But a pair of earrings worn on the new film adaptation’s press tour – and their long separation from their homeland – is sparking controversy. At a photocall in London, Zendaya, who plays the goddess Athena in the Christopher Nolan film, wore a pair of earrings fashioned from Iranian artefacts dating back to 700BC.

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