Why Zendaya Refused To Kiss Her Disney Co-Stars

Zendaya admits that during her teenage years as an actor, she refused to have her first kiss while filming for "Shake It Up." She was very firm about refusing to kiss her co-stars on screen and established the rule early on in her career — and stuck with it. "I remember being on 'Shake It Up' and being like, 'I'm not gonna do this. I'm going to kiss him on the cheek because I haven't been kissed yet so I don't want the kiss to be on camera,' she told British Vogue in 2021.

Zendaya's commitment to her values and principles helped her establish a strong personal brand and fan base. She is known for her authenticity and her willingness to be true to herself. This has also translated to her acting roles, where she has taken on challenging and diverse characters, from a substance abuser Rue in "Euphoria" to boyish MJ in the "Spider-Man" franchise.