Claire Stoermer, mother of actress Zendaya, has publicly addressed negative comments about her appearance, describing the online criticism as "sad and frustrating." Stoermer, 62, took to her Instagram story on Wednesday to respond to trolls who had commented on her looks.
Sharing a screenshot of a post that appeared on her feed, Stoermer wrote that she understood why some people choose to deactivate their social media accounts for mental health reasons. "If I was to go and read all the comments on this post about myself, I could feel really bad. There are some terrible, horrible comments, I did read some of them," she stated.
However, Stoermer, a former teacher, added that she does not take such remarks personally, noting that while she might have in the past, it is "sad and frustrating" that others, particularly younger individuals, might be deeply affected. She referenced the "four agreements," a set of principles from a self-help book, to explain her perspective, specifically the agreement to "not take anything personally," as such comments "have nothing to do with you."
Zendaya, now 30, and her mother share a close relationship. Stoermer, who runs a jewelry company named Kizzmet Jewelry, has been cited by her daughter as a role model. In a 2016 interview with Teen Vogue, Zendaya recalled her mother's dedication as a teacher in underfunded Oakland schools. "My mom went above and beyond, working constantly to open her students' eyes to an education that could lift them far beyond their current circumstances," Zendaya said, detailing how her mother introduced students to arts, Shakespeare, and nature.
Zendaya has also expressed gratitude for her parents' influence. Speaking on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she stated, "I gotta give it up to my parents. I'm really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything."
Zendaya's mother is of Scottish and German descent, while her father is African American. Stoermer has mentioned that Zendaya is aware of and proud of her Scottish heritage, and has expressed a desire to visit Scotland in the future.