The ‘Spider-Man’ costars, who maintained for years that they were just friends, confirmed their romantic relationship in 2021 after they were spotted kissing
Zendaya and Tom Holland are taking their relationship to the next level!
The Spider-Man costars, both 28, are engaged, a family source confirmed. According to the outlet, Holland proposed at one of Zendaya’s family homes over the holidays.
A separate source said that “everyone close to them knew an engagement was happening” — just not when. The source said Holland had been keen to propose to Zendaya “for a while.”
“He’s always been crazy about her. He always knew she was the one. They have something very special,” the source said, noting that Holland shared the happy news with friends around New Year’s.
As for tying the knot, the couple plans to take their time. “They will just enjoy things for now and won’t rush a wedding,” the source added. “They are both busy with work projects.”
In the meantime, the pair are soaking up the special moment. “Tom’s always had this sweet way of letting the world know that Zendaya is his. Now, it’s official — she really is!” the source said.
The news comes after Zendaya stepped out to the 2025 Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 5, sporting a diamond ring on her lefthand ring finger. The ring appears to be a 5.02-carat East-West Cushion Diamond Button Back Ring from Jessica McCormack, listed in the engagement section on the jewelry brand’s website.
Holland previously teased his “secret” holiday plans with his now-fiancée while appearing on the Dec. 18 episode of the Dish podcast. “I’ll be with my girlfriend’s family, which will be fun. Where we’ll be is a secret,” he said of his plans to spend Christmas in the U.S.
“[Secret] to you guys,” he joked. “I’ll know where we’re going.”
Holland and Zendaya — who play onscreen couple Peter Parker and Michelle “MJ” Jones in the Spider-Man movies — maintained for years that they were just friends. However, just months after their characters shared their first kiss in 2019’s in Spider-Man: Far from Home, life imitated art for the pair. Much to fans’ delight, they were spotted kissing in a car in July 2021, confirming their off-screen romance.
In September of that year, they went Instagram official, with Holland sharing a selfie of the pair in honor of Zendaya’s 25th birthday and affectionately calling the Euphoria star “my MJ” in the caption.
Weeks later, in a November 2021 interview with GQ, Holland expressed his desire to keep their relationship private. “One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world,” he told the outlet.
He added that the pair would decide together when the time was right to share details about their relationship.
“This isn’t my story. It’s our story. And we’ll talk about what it is when we’re ready to talk about it together,” Holland explained.
The couple’s romance continued to blossom over the following months and years. And while they maintained a low profile, Zendaya shared her love for Holland in quiet ways. In a June 2022 Instagram post celebrating the Uncharted star’s 26th birthday, she wrote simply, “Happiest of birthdays to the one who makes me the happiest <3,” alongside a black-and-white snapshot of the pair cuddling.
In March 2023, she was spotted wearing a gold ring etched with Holland’s initials in a video posted by Zendaya’s nail artist on Instagram.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in June 2023, Holland reiterated why the couple prefers to keep their relationship under wraps. “Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible,” he explained at the time. “We don’t think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers.”
The following month, he revealed that his relationship with Zendaya is the thing he holds “most sacred” in life.
“I don’t talk about it. I try my best to keep it as private as possible,” he said while appearing on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast. “We both feel very strongly that that is the healthiest way to move on as a couple.”
Zendaya echoed that sentiment in an August 2023 interview with Elle, telling the magazine that her priority is “protecting the peace” in her relationship with Holland amid the relentless public interest and paparazzi presence.
“Parts of my life, I accept, are going to be public. I can’t not be a person and live my life and love the person I love,” she said.
“But also, I do have control over what I choose to share,” Zendaya continued. “It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist. You can’t hide. That’s not fun either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”