Renowned for their roles in the recent live-action “Spider-Man” trilogy, the duo collaborated with basketball-themed charities Hoopbus and Project Backboard to renovate the playground at West Oakland Middle School on August 25th.
In an online video, Zendaya warmly greeted a group of surprised students, expressing her hopes for their wonderful day and her delight in meeting them. She shared the occasion with Elvin Rodriguez from Netflix’s “Hustle” and Sam Diaz of the Harlem Globetrotters.
When asked if she’d be playing basketball, Zendaya politely declined, citing her lack of experience since her own youth. She laughingly mentioned the possibility of twisting an ankle. However, she did assist Rodriguez with a layup. Meanwhile, Tom Holland, sporting an Oakland Roots soccer club T-shirt, attempted to master basketball-spinning tricks from Diaz.
The Hoopbus, a creatively refurbished yellow school bus, travels the nation to foster discussions about race and equality through basketball. Project Backboard’s mission focuses on revitalizing basketball courts with vibrant artwork.
Zendaya documented the event extensively on her Instagram, spotlighting custom shirts by local clothing company Oaklandish and capturing Holland’s court-side moment.
This visit isn’t their first to East Bay schools; the couple previously stopped by Zendaya’s alma mater, Oakland School for the Arts, and distributed school supplies at Global Family Elementary School. Fruitvale Elementary School has also been a recipient of Zendaya’s prior appearances, where her mother, Claire Stoermer, was once a teacher.
With some free time on her hands, Zendaya’s recent schedule changes include the delay of Luca Guadagnino’s R-rated drama “Challengers,” in which she stars, to next April from its original Venice Film Festival slot. Additionally, Warner Bros. announced the postponement of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” in which she appears with Timothée Chalamet, due to ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters. SAG-AFTRA urged members not to promote studio films during the work stoppage.
Navigating her rising popularity, Zendaya shared with Elle that her public presence has significantly evolved after the last “Spider-Man” film and the latest “Euphoria” season. She acknowledged the balance between public exposure and personal privacy, emphasizing the importance of protecting one’s peace while embracing authenticity.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digest Pulse journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
