Ancient Iranian artefacts worn by Zendaya spark heritage row at Odyssey press tour

Film star Zendaya has faced intense scrutiny after wearing earrings made from ancient Iranian artefacts at a London photocall for Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey. The jewellery, attributed to the Ziwiye hoard, dates back to 700BC and was lent by Barron London, a Mayfair-based gallery. While the gallery asserts the pieces were acquired legally and are responsibly stewarded, archaeologists and experts have condemned the display as a “hijacking” of Iran’s cultural heritage.

The Ziwiye hoard, consisting of gold, silver, bronze, and terracotta, was discovered in north-western Iran in the late 1940s. According to historical records, the trove was looted by shepherds and the surviving pieces were sold in antique markets out of Iran in the 1960s. Today, these artefacts are scattered across various museums and private collections. Barron London stated that the gallery purchased the specific earrings from another London jeweller, Glenn Spiro, in 2025, and maintains that they are handled in accordance with documented provenance and legal requirements.

Prof Sussan Babaie, an Iranian-born art historian and professor at the Courtauld Institute, expressed “outrage” at the styling decision. She argued that there is a significant lack of cultural sensibility among those who dress celebrities and accessorise them for high-profile events. Babaie described the act of wearing the earrings as shocking, noting that the objects possess extremely important spiritual connotations and are not meant to be displayed as fashion accessories. She characterised the move as a flattening and transformation of ancient Iran’s cultural contributions to humanity.

The controversy has drawn parallels to broader debates surrounding Western institutions and the display of looted artefacts. Critics have long scrutinised the British Museum for holding items such as the Benin bronzes, Ethiopian altar tablets, and the Parthenon marbles. The incident also echoes the 2022 Met Gala, where Kim Kardashian’s wearing of a Marilyn Monroe dress sparked intense debate about the preservation of significant historical items versus their use as temporary fashion statements.

Dr Annelise Baer, an archaeologist and producer, noted that while Zendaya wearing the earrings is a secondary fact, the red carpet exposure has brought the issue of looted antiquities into the public eye in a way that has not been seen before. However, the timing of the promotion has added another layer of complexity to the backlash. Babaie highlighted the “maddening” nature of glamourising Iranian antiquities at a time when billions of American dollars are being used in military action against Iran, potentially destroying sites of cultural and historical interest.

Barron London defended the loan in a formal statement, asserting that the intention was never commercial. The gallery stated that the goal was to celebrate the artistry of ancient Persian goldsmiths and encourage wider appreciation of one of the world’s great artistic traditions. They hoped the earrings would remind audiences of Iran’s profound cultural, artistic, and historical legacy, distinct from contemporary political narratives.

The film itself is facing additional criticism regarding its production choices. Sahrawi film-makers are calling for a boycott of The Odyssey due to the use of Dakhla, a city in occupied Western Sahara, as a filming location. The land is under Moroccan control and is sometimes referred to as “Africa’s last colony”, adding another geopolitical dimension to the controversy surrounding the film’s promotion.

Representatives for Zendaya and her stylist have been contacted for comment regarding the backlash. As the press tour continues, the debate over the ethical use of cultural heritage in Hollywood marketing shows no sign of abating.