Zendaya Sparks Debate Over Seated Greeting to Brigitte Macron
The actress's decision to remain seated while greeting the French First Lady at Paris Fashion Week has ignited discussions about etiquette and generational differences.
Zendaya has drawn criticism following her interaction with Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, during the Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week. The incident, which occurred at the Louvre, has prompted an online debate about basic manners and protocol.
Video footage shows the actress seated in the front row, appearing to be engaged in conversation with another guest before acknowledging Mrs. Macron. Zendaya then offered a greeting and a handshake while remaining seated. This has led some social media users to question whether she should have stood to greet the French First Lady.
One widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter) commented, "Zendaya girl…. you gotta get up when the First Lady of France is trying to say hello to you," garnering significant attention and sparking a flurry of reactions. Many echoed the sentiment, stating that standing to greet someone is a matter of basic manners, regardless of the individual's status.
"Definitely Rude! Never shake someone’s hand while seated!" one user commented. Another suggested, "This the first time i’m seeing for myself that gen z (no pun) really doesn’t have those basic manners anymore but what an unintentional power move to not get up."
Some observers pointed out that Zendaya also remained seated when Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH—the parent company of Louis Vuitton—greeted her shortly before Mrs. Macron approached. "Even to not get up to shake Mr Arnaults hand lol he’s owns LVMH…" one user noted, emphasizing Arnault's significant position in the fashion industry.
Conversely, many defended the actress, questioning the necessity of protocol in such a setting. "Why? Zendaya is not a foreign dignitary nor a citizen of France," one commenter argued. Another fan on X suggested, "I don’t believe in too much protocol etc… since she wasn’t introduced as the First Lady of France attending the event. What matters to me is she is polite and gave her a sweet smile. I’d rather have genuine expressions than put on facade. Because if you think about it - it’s a fashion show."
Others suggested Zendaya may have been caught off guard, with one user stating, "looks like she was caught off guard.. no big deal." They added, "Think maybe they should have introduced rather than just walked up to say hi. It’s hard to say someone has bad manners when they are don’t instantly realise who is approaching them."
The Louis Vuitton show marked one of the final major presentations of Paris Fashion Week, concluding the fashion month that also included stops in New York, London, and Milan. The collection, designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere for spring/summer 2027, featured sharp tailoring and historical references. Zendaya attended the event in a blue jeans and white ruffled jacket ensemble.