It looks like Hollywood icon Zendaya’s 51-year-old half-sister, Latonja Coleman, has had enough and is finally speaking out about their strained family dynamics.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on March 19, 2025, Latonja opened up about the growing distance between her and Zendaya, revealing that their relationship has been tense for the past several years, despite sharing the same father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman.
Dropping a shocking revelation, Latonja disclosed that she and the Challengers star have only met twice in the last seven years, with their most recent encounter taking place in January 2025 at their grandmother’s funeral. Reflecting on the cold reception she received, she shared,
“When I tried to talk to her, she just gave me a one-arm hug. It felt like I was just a fan. Zendaya is very active with my other sister and brother’s kids, but my grandkids don’t even know her. They think she’s just from the Disney Channel”.
Latonja also recalled a painful chapter in her life, her battle with cancer, during which she received no support from her half sister. Though she attempted to reach out, she never heard back. Expressing her disappointment, she said,
“I went through cancer and chemotherapy all by myself with no help, no support. I just want to know why Zendaya wasn’t there for me. [I believe] they never told her [I had cancer], but I’m sure she found out later”.
Latonja Weighs In On Zendaya And Tom Holland’s Relationship
Zendaya and Tom first met each other on the set of the 2016 film Spider-Man Homecoming and soon started dating.
Reflecting on her first in-person meeting with Holland back in 2018, Zendaya’s half-sister shared her initial thoughts on the British actor, saying,
“He’s really really cool. He’s down to earth and my family likes him”.
In January 2025, news broke that the Spider-Man co-stars had taken their relationship to the next level, reportedly getting engaged over the holiday season at one of Zendaya’s family homes in the U.S.
With wedding plans seemingly on the horizon, Latonja shared her honest opinion about the couple, admitting,
“They just look like an odd couple because he’s so short and she’s so tall. But other than that, I think he’s the one for her”.
Despite their distant relationship, Coleman ended the interview with a heartfelt message, expressing her deep desire to reconnect with the Dune actress. She emotionally shared,
“I don’t want her money. I just want to be in her life, to show her that I love her and support her. Whatever I can contribute to her life, I would love to do it”.
Fans Harshly Criticize Latonja Coleman For Her Latest Confession
Latonja may have intended to share her truth, but her recent interview didn’t sit well with many fans. The online community quickly reacted, slamming her for publicly discussing their strained family relationship. Some such comments read,
“Given the half sister has presumably given this interview for money, I don’t think I believe her”.
“No reason to make this public, it makes it sound like she does want more… besides with the age gap it sort of makes sense why there is no closeness. Might as well just let it go”.
“I hate when estranged family members do this. There’s a reason why you’re estranged and this will only maintain that distance”.
“Translation: I’m not getting the attention and money she’s giving my other siblings and that I think she owes me”.
As Zendaya stays tight-lipped, fans are rallying behind her, calling out the family drama for what it is—unnecessary noise. Only time will tell if this family rift will heal, but for now, the actress seems to be keeping her focus on love, career, and the future ahead.