By Junyoung Yoo
July 30, 2026 · 4 min readHollywood actress Zendaya recently became the center of an international debate after wearing a pair of ancient Iranian earrings at a promotional event this month, for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey.
Although the jewelry was intended to complement her outfit, historians, archaeologists, and cultural heritage experts quickly criticized the decision.
They argued that the earrings were not ordinary accessories, but a valuable historical artifact.
It could also be removed from Iran illegally.
As the controversy spread online, it raised important questions about the ethics of wearing ancient artifacts as fashion and who should be responsible for protecting cultural heritage.
Zendaya wore the earrings on July 5, 2026, during a photocall for The Odyssey in London.
The earrings were created using ancient gold medallions believed to date back nearly 3000 years.
According to experts, the medallions most likely came from the Ziwiyeh Hoard, a collection of ancient treasures discovered near Ziwiyeh castle in northwestern Iran in 1947.
Instead of remaining together as historical objects, the medallions were separated, redesigned with diamonds and modern gold, and turned into a pair of luxury earrings.
The jewelry was loaned to Zendaya by the London Gallery Barron London, which acquired the artifacts before the event.
While the gallery stated that the pieces had been legally obtained, many archaeologists questioned whether they should have been transformed into jewelry at all.
Because the artifacts are believed to have originated from the Ziwiyeh Hoard, some experts argue that they may have been looted before entering the international art market.
Since the original excavation was not carefully documented, it is difficult to determine exactly how the objects left Iran.
The criticism focused less on Zendaya herself and more on the use of ancient cultural objects as fashion accessories.
Archaeologists explained that historical artifacts provide valuable information about past civilizations, and changing them can permanently damage their historical value.
Dr. Annelise Baer argued that “The earrings themselves are made out of looted antiques,” suggesting that the main concern is the origin of the artifacts.
His comparison emphasizes how altering important historical objects destroys part of their cultural and archeological significance.
Prof Sussan Babaie, an Iranian-born art historian and Courtauld Institute professor, said: “There is not enough cultural knowledge and cultural sensibility among those who dress [celebrities], those who accessorize them, those who put them up as the symbols of beauty and power and an expression of the movie’s high-mindedness.” Representatives for Zendaya and her stylist have been contacted for comment.
The controversy also highlights a much larger issue involving museums, collectors, and private galleries.
For many years, countries such as Iran have argued that cultural artifacts removed without permission should be returned to their original country.
Experts believe that objects like the Ziwiyeh artifacts belong not only to the collectors but also to the people whose history they represent.
As more ancient artifacts appear in private collections, debates over ownership, preservation, and cultural responsibility continue to grow.
Barron London defended its actions by stating that the earrings had a documented ownership history and had been legally acquired.
However, many researchers believe that legality does not always mean an action is ethical.
Even if ownership records exist today, critics argue that objects connected to possible looting should be treated with greater care instead of being redesigned into luxury fashion items.
According to Euronews, archaeologist Dr. Z argued that "These pieces are likely looted from Iran, and they are gracing the ears of an American actress from a country that just bombed Iran," raising concerns about the use of ancient cultural artifacts as fashion accessories.
Although Zendaya has not publicly commented on the controversy, the incident has drawn worldwide attention.
It reminds both celebrities and the public that fashion choices can carry historical and cultural meaning.
While the actress may not have intended to offend anyone, wearing ancient artifacts sparked an important conversation about protecting cultural heritage and respecting the history behind priceless archaeological discoveries.
As discussions continue, the debate serves as a reminder that preserving the past is just as important as celebrating the present.
