Zendaya Dismisses Criticism of 12-Year Age Gap in ‘Malcolm & Marie’

Zendaya Dismisses Criticism of, 12-Year Age Gap, in ‘Malcolm & Marie’.

Zendaya is speaking out against recent concerns over her role in the upcoming Netflix film, ‘Malcolm & Marie.’.

In the film, the 24-year-old Emmy winner has an on-screen romance with 36-year-old John David Washington.

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Some social media users have criticized the 12-year age gap.

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In an interview on ‘PEOPLE (the TV Show!),’ Zendaya empathized with her fans but ultimately dismissed their concerns.

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Although she often portrays younger characters on-screen, Zendaya reminded her fans that she is a “grown” woman.

People often forget — which is understandable because I've been playing 16 since I was 16, you know — [but] I am grown … I knew that, as I grow and as I evolve, there would be that moment where I could play someone my own age, Zendaya, to 'PEOPLE (the TV Show!)'.

Washington also addressed the topic in the past, telling ‘Variety’ that he wasn’t “concerned.”.

People are going to see in this film how much of a woman she is … She has far more experience than I do in the industry, I've only been in it for seven years.

She's been in it longer, so I'm learning from her.

I'm the rookie, John David Washington, to 'Variety'