The actress wore a pair of earrings made from Iranian gold medallions for a photocall in London
Credit: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Zendaya is sparking controversy online for promoting The Odyssey wearing a pair of earrings made from Iranian artifacts
- For her appearance at a London photocall earlier this month, the actress wore a pair of Glenn Spiro earrings made from gold discs dating back thousands of years
- Zendaya is styled by Law Roach, who has dressed the star in various goddess-inspired looks to promote the Christopher Nolan movie, in theaters now
Zendaya is facing criticism over earrings she wore to promote The Odyssey in London.
While appearing at a photocall for the Christopher Nolan film, Zendaya paired a white Jacquemus dress with earrings made from Iranian gold medallions dating back to the 1st millennium BC, making them approximately 3,000 years old.
The medallions were a part of the Ziwiye hoard, or Ziwiye treasure, which Britannica describes as a “collection of Median-period art dating to the 7th century BCE.” They were discovered in Northwest Iran during the late 1940s, per CNN.
The relic was mounted by London jeweler, Glen Spiro, with diamonds in 18K yellow gold and is believed to have been part of Spiro’s Materials of the Old World collection, which turned various artifacts — including a 62-carat Colombian emerald and gold from the West African Baoulé tribe — into jewelry, per Only Natural Diamonds.
“You can wear something around your neck that dates back thousands of years but is still contemporary and cool,” Spiro told Galeria magazine in a 2025 interview.
Credit: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty
Fine jewelry brand Barron London, which acquired the artifact from Spiro, told CNN that the discs are held in a “simple noninvasive” claw setting as to “not alter or damage the original objects in any way.”
“Cultural heritage rightly inspires important conversations, and we welcome informed dialogue about provenance, preservation and the appreciation of exceptional craftsmanship,” the statement to CNN continued.
Barron London also appeared to comment on the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which began in March.
“At a time when Iran is frequently viewed through the lens of contemporary events, we hope these earrings can serve as a reminder of the country’s enduring artistic, cultural and historical legacy,” the jeweler’s statement continued.
The internet appears to be divided on Zendaya and stylist Law Roach’s decision to incorporate the earrings into the star’s press looks inspired by the film. Some have argued that wearing the medallions as jewelry preserves the artifact, while others expressed a strong belief that they represent colonialism in Iran and should be returned to their home country.
“These 3,000-year-old Iranian earrings should be returned to Iran, or at the very least be preserved in a museum,” one commenter wrote. “No one has the right to use such ancient artifacts, as they are extremely valuable and represent an important part of humanity’s cultural heritage.”
PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Roach, Zendaya, Barron London, and Glenn Spiro for comment.
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Zendaya plays Athena, the daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom and war, in Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated adaptation of the Homer epic. In a May interview with Elle, the Emmy winner revealed how the role was the perfect “pairing” for her.
“I don’t know what that is, I just feel like I’ve been here before,” she said.
The Odyssey, in theaters now, also stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o and Cate Blanchett.
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