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If you’ve spent any time on the internet over the last few years, you’ve probably seen those grainy photos of two very tall, very stylish people wandering through Athens or grabbing coffee in SoHo. We're talking about Zendaya and Jacob Elordi. Long before the world was obsessed with "Tomdaya" or Jacob’s rise as a prestige cinema darling, these two were the center of a massive "are they or aren't they" storm that basically broke the entertainment side of social media.
Honestly, it feels like forever ago. But with Euphoria Season 3 finally back in the headlines and Jacob Elordi recently wrapping production on projects like Frankenstein, fans are looking back. Did they actually date? Why did they hide it? And where do they stand now in 2026? Recently making headlines recently: Tiger Woods and the Dangerous Myth of the Victimless Privacy Loophole.
The Greece Trip That Started It All
It all kicked off in August 2019. A fan posted a photo of their vacation in Greece, and right there in the background, looking like every other tourist at the Acropolis, were Zendaya and Jacob. They weren't even the focus of the photo, which is kinda hilarious in hindsight.
At the time, they were just co-stars. Euphoria had just finished its explosive first season, and the cast was everywhere. But a trip to Greece together? That’s not exactly "just grabbing lunch after work" behavior. More details on this are covered by Bloomberg.
Jacob tried to play it cool. In a December 2019 interview with GQ Australia, he famously called Zendaya his "sister." He said she was "super dope to work with" and an "incredible artist." Most of us weren't buying it. People don't usually take their "sisters" to Greece for a private getaway right after a hectic filming schedule.
Thanksgiving in Australia
If Greece was the spark, Thanksgiving 2019 was the gasoline. Zendaya was spotted in Sydney, Australia, with Jacob’s family. Now, unless you’re really close with a co-star, you don’t fly across the world to spend a major holiday with their parents.
Despite the mounting evidence, they stayed incredibly low-key. They were masters of the "stealth date." They’d show up at the American Australian Association Arts Awards or a Fendi launch, but they’d walk the carpet separately. They were clearly trying to keep their private lives, well, private.
The NYC Kiss and the "Silent" Relationship
Everything changed in February 2020. The paparazzi finally caught what fans had been waiting for: a photo of Jacob kissing Zendaya on the head in New York City. They were hanging out in SoHo, looking completely comfortable.
"It was very obvious that they were together," a source told People at the time after seeing them at a Broadway show. "They were trying not to hold hands... but you could tell."
They never did the "Instagram Official" thing. No long captions, no red carpet debuts as a couple. It was a relationship lived in the margins—caught in the background of fan photos or through long-lens paparazzi shots.
Why did they split?
The breakup was as quiet as the relationship itself. By spring 2020, as the world went into lockdown, the two seemed to drift apart. Jacob headed back to Australia, while Zendaya stayed in the States.
By September 2020, Jacob was spotted with Kaia Gerber. The timing was... interesting. It happened right around Zendaya’s 24th birthday. Naturally, the internet had thoughts. Some fans speculated there was drama, but neither actor ever breathed a word of negativity about the other. Jacob even posted a sweet tribute on his Instagram Story when Zendaya won her first Emmy for Euphoria, calling her "Captain" and saying "Bravo."
Zendaya and Jacob Elordi in 2026: Where are they now?
Fast forward to today. The landscape is totally different.
Zendaya is, of course, famously engaged to her Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland. They’ve become one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples, having confirmed their engagement in early 2025. She’s moved on into a very public, very stable chapter of her life.
Jacob Elordi, meanwhile, has been busy becoming the "it" actor of his generation. After a long on-and-off relationship with Olivia Jade Giannulli that finally ended in late 2025, Jacob has been focusing heavily on his craft. He’s been linked to various people, but he seems to be keeping things much more guarded than he used to.
The Euphoria Season 3 Reunion
The big question on everyone's mind is how they’re handling being back on set together. Euphoria Season 3 has faced massive delays, but filming finally kicked into high gear in early 2026.
While their characters, Rue and Nate, don't interact a ton, the set is intimate. Reports from the set suggest it's strictly professional and even friendly. They’ve both grown up. In 2019, they were rising stars; in 2026, they are industry titans.
- Professionalism: Both have a reputation for being incredibly focused on the work.
- Shared History: They spent their formative years together on a show that changed both their lives.
- Mutual Respect: Jacob’s public praise of Zendaya’s talent hasn’t wavered over the years.
Insights for Fans and Creators
Looking back at the Zendaya and Jacob Elordi era, it’s a masterclass in how celebrities navigate modern fame. They proved you can have a full-blown relationship in the public eye without ever actually "confirming" it to the press.
If you’re following their journey, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Don't believe every "feud" rumor: Just because two people stop dating doesn't mean they hate each other. Their 2026 reunion on Euphoria proves that adults can work together effectively after a "fizzle out."
- Respect the privacy: Zendaya and Jacob both showed that keeping things low-key can protect your mental health when you're under a microscope.
- Watch the work: Instead of hunting for "tension" in Euphoria Season 3, look at how their acting has evolved. They are both vastly different performers now than they were during the Greece trip days.
The "Jendaya" era was a specific moment in time—a pre-pandemic, Euphoria-hype whirlwind. While they've both found happiness in different places, that period remains a fascinating bit of pop culture history that helped shape the stars they are today.
Next Steps for the Superfan: To get the most out of the upcoming Euphoria season, you should re-watch the Season 2 finale to refresh yourself on where Rue and Nate's storylines ended. Also, keep an eye on the official HBO production stills; they usually give the best hints about which cast members are sharing scenes before the trailers even drop.
