Zendaya Admits She's 'Still Harboring a Little Animosity' AboutDancing with the StarsLoss: 'It Was Highly Stressful'

Mar. 15, 2025

Zendaya attends the 2024 Gotham Awards (left): Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 16 (right).Photo:Taylor Hill/WireImage;Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Taylor Hill/WireImage;Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Zendayawon’t be tuning in toDancing with the Starsany time soon.

The 28-year-old actress placed second onseason 16of the ballroom dance competition series more than a decade ago. But her experience stays with her — so much so that she’ll admit she’s “still harboring a little animosity” about losing.

“I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful,” she toldW Magazine. “Being on live television every week? It’s so scary.”

In retrospect, theChallengersstar, who competed withVal Chmerkovskiy, said she wishes she “didn’t” take the show as “seriously” as she did.

“I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”

Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 16.Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“I love, unfortunately,Love Is Blind, and then I feel bad for watching it,” she told the outlet, calling the Netflix dating series a “guilty pleasure.”

“It’s brutal. I’m like, ‘Dang, you guys know you’re on camera?'”

It’s not the first time Zendaya has reflected poorly on her experience onDWTS. In October, during an appearance onEntertainment Weekly’sAwardistpodcast, she said she hadn’t been much of an audience member before competing on the show, either.

“I have not watchedDancing With the Starssince I was on,” she said. “I didn’t really watchDancing With the Starsbefore I was onDancing With the Stars. I don’t think I was the target demographic. My grandma lovesDancing With the Stars, that’s her bag.”

She also called it a “very stressful experience,” which is part of the reason why she doesn’t tune in now. “I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.”

Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ season 16.Adam Taylor/ABC via Getty

Adam Taylor/ABC via Getty

Zendaya is not the only formerDWTScontestant to reflect negatively on her experience on the show. Over the last year, several former contestants have admitted to believing the show is “rigged” to keep certain stars on longer.

Danica McKellar, who competed on season 18, toldCheryl Burkeon her podcast in November thatthe series is “a reality show, not a dance competition.”

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Antonio Sabáto Jr. similarly called the show “rigged"on Burke’s podcast two months prior, as he alleged, “If you’re not a dancer or you don’t have dancing skills from a young age — you’re not gonna win.”

He also said that he thinks the judges “know who they want” to stay on the show, “so you gotta keep that persona.”

source: people.com