Zendaya’s 3,000‑Year‑Old Iranian Earrings Spark Global Controversy

During the London press call for Christopher Nolan’s film *The Odyssey*, actress Zendaya wore earrings made from gold medallion discs that date to the first millennium B.C., estimated at 2,000‑3,000 years old. The pieces originate from the Ziwiye hoard discovered in north‑western Iran in the 1940s and were incorporated into modern jewelry by London jeweler Glenn Spiro, set in 18‑karat gold and bordered with diamonds. Barron London later acquired the earrings and says the original artifacts were placed in a “simple, noninvasive claw setting that does not alter or damage the original objects in any way.”

The appearance sparked a heated online debate. Supporters argued the ancient objects were being preserved and introduced to a wider audience, while critics called the use of cultural heritage “disrespectful” and demanded the items be returned to museums or to Iran. One commentator wrote, “As an archaeology student. I HATE THIS. They should be in a museum.” The jeweler responded that the earrings “serve as a reminder of the country’s enduring artistic, cultural and historical legacy.”

The controversy was reported alongside other fashion coverage of Zendaya’s *Odyssey* promotion, including a white Jacquemus dress paired with a plain white T‑shirt for a New York summer outing and a black leather Louis Vuitton look for the subsequent *Spider‑Man* campaign. Across the coverage, the ancient‑earring episode remained the most cited flashpoint, drawing reactions from social‑media users, cultural commentators, and news outlets in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Mexico and other regions.