It is 2026, and if you scroll through TikTok or whatever remains of X for more than ten minutes, you will inevitably hit that one clip. You know the one. Tom Holland is in a wig, it’s pouring fake rain, and he’s doing a flip that seems physically impossible for someone in fishnets. But there is a massive misconception about that night in May 2017.
People remember Tom winning. They remember the "Umbrella" moment because it was, honestly, a cultural reset. But if you actually sit down and rewatch Zendaya on Lip Sync Battle, you realize she didn't just show up to promote Spider-Man: Homecoming. She gave a masterclass in character acting that, in hindsight, was the first real hint of the Emmy-winning powerhouse she’d become in Euphoria.
She lost the belt that night. Technically. But the industry impact? That went to her.
The Bruno Mars Transformation Nobody Expected
Zendaya’s choice of Bruno Mars’ "24K Magic" was risky. At the time, she was still shaking off the "Disney Channel Star" label. People expected her to be cute, maybe do a pop song, and look pretty. Instead, she walked out in a full silk tracksuit, heavy gold chains, and a swagger that felt dangerously close to the real thing.
The choreography wasn't just "good for an actor." It was sharp. It was professional. Zendaya has that background from Dancing with the Stars, sure, but this was different. She had the lip-curls down. She had the "cool guy" walk. When she started throwing fake dollar bills at Tom Holland, it wasn't just a gag—it was a total takeover of the stage.
Why the Bruno Mars Performance Changed Her Career
Most people don't know this, but that specific performance caught the eye of Bruno Mars himself. He didn't just tweet about it. He reached out.
- The Text: Bruno literally texted her after seeing the episode.
- The Result: That text led directly to Zendaya starring in the "Versace on the Floor" music video.
- The Pivot: It moved her from "teen actress" to "muse" in the eyes of the music industry.
The Soulful Deep Cut: Erykah Badu’s "Tyrone"
While the "24K Magic" set was all high-energy Las Vegas vibes—literally, she "deplaned" from a private jet on stage—her first round was the real shocker. She did Erykah Badu’s "Tyrone."
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Think about that choice for a second. In a competition built on loud, flashy pop hits, she chose a slow-burn, soulful track from 1997. It was basically just her and a mic stand. No backup dancers to hide behind. No pyrotechnics.
It was a bold move. It required a level of "innate cool" that most 20-year-olds simply don't have. She wore the headwrap, she nailed the weary, "call him" attitude of the lyrics, and she proved she actually knew her music history. It was the moment she stopped being a "kid star" and started being an artist with taste.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The episode actually aired as a special lead-in to the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards. It wasn't just a random Thursday night on Spike TV. The pressure was huge.
Tom Holland has since admitted in interviews—including a 2025 chat with Gordon Ramsay—that he was terrified. He didn't even get final approval on the "Umbrella" track until five hours before the cameras rolled. Zendaya, meanwhile, seemed like she was having the time of her life. She was the one who pushed the production value.
The Strange "Weather" Incident
There is a weird piece of Hollywood lore from that night. When the episode aired, a literal rainstorm broke out in Los Angeles. At the exact moment Tom Holland started his rain-soaked Rihanna routine on screen, it started pouring outside the Shrine Auditorium.
Fans joked that Zendaya was secretly "Storm" from the X-Men and had summoned the clouds. Obviously, it was just a wild coincidence, but it added to the legendary status of the episode. It felt like the universe was acknowledging that something special was happening.
Why She Actually "Won" in the Long Run
Tom Holland walked away with the physical trophy. He deserved it for the sheer bravery of that Rihanna performance. But Zendaya used that platform to show the world she could disappear into a role.
In 2026, we look at her career and see a fashion icon, a two-time Emmy winner, and a producer. All of that requires a specific kind of confidence—the kind of confidence it takes to stand in front of a screaming audience and pretend to be a 5-foot-something funk singer from Hawaii.
She didn't just "lip sync." She performed.
How to Apply the "Zendaya Method" to Your Own Brand
If you’re a creator or just someone trying to make a mark, there’s a lot to learn from how Zendaya handled that viral moment.
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- Don't play it safe. She could have done a Disney song. She didn't. She went for a legend like Badu.
- Commit to the bit. Half-heartedness kills a performance. She wasn't "Zendaya doing Bruno Mars." For three minutes, she was the 24K Magic era.
- Use the moment as a bridge. She didn't let the hype die on the stage. She turned that visibility into a collaboration with the artist she was mimicking.
If you haven't seen the full, unedited footage in a while, go find the Paramount Network archives. Most of the clips on YouTube are chopped up. Seeing the full transition from her Erykah Badu soul to the Bruno Mars spectacle is the only way to truly appreciate why this remains the greatest episode in the show's history.
Your next step: Watch the "Versace on the Floor" music video right after re-watching her battle. You’ll see exactly how the swagger she channeled on that stage translated into the "muse" persona that defined the next phase of her career.