National treasure Zendaya posted a series of Snapchats on Wednesday (September 6) describing how a clerk at grocery store Vons refused service to her and her friend.
“So we just got out of this Vons,” Zendaya said to the camera. “Now I’m trying to buy a lot of gift cards. Now there’s some certain specific things that you have to do when it comes to buying gift cards. There’s some certain limits and some things, which is understandable, OK, cool. So I’ll take a less amount, whatever. … But the lady that was helping us, I don’t think she was a huge fan of our skin tone.”
Zendaya, who was visibly upset, and her friend characterized the clerk as “extremely rude,” and said, “In fact, I recall her not trying to help us at all, saying that we couldn’t buy the gift cards, and then throwing my wallet. Can’t make this sh-t up. I just can’t make this sh-t up. This is what we deal with.”
Starstruck By Zendaya
She continued, “She literally threw my wallet, and she was like, ‘You can’t afford this,’ is how she looked at me. … It was $400! … Long story short, there is so much progress to be done in our world.”
Now Zendaya, who recently turned 20, is the last person to try this with. Among her many titles —actress, singer, dancer — is also activist. Why do you think she’s part of woke Beyoncé’s Lemonade crew? Zendaya, the daughter of two educators, continually speaks with poise and knowledge on social media and in interviews about racism, social justice, and other important issues.
And as far as not being able to afford some gift cards, well, Zendaya is the star and co-producer of Disney Channel’s K.C. Undercover and was reportedly just chosen to be the next Mary Jane in Spider-Man: Homecoming. And here she is with Michael Kors as the face of his new #AccessItAll campaign:
Yes, there is progress to be done, and Zendaya is leading the way. Vons has yet to respond publicly.