# Debate Over Ancient Iranian Jewelry Worn by Zendaya to ‘Odyssey’ Event

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-23 17:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Zendaya faces intense criticism after wearing ancient Iranian earrings from 700 BC at the ‘Odyssey’ event, sparking a global debate on looted artifacts.

## Intelligence Brief
Actress Zendaya has become the center of a growing controversy following her appearance at the ‘Odyssey’ event. The actress wore a pair of ancient earrings that originated from Iran, which has led to accusations that she is hijacking Iranian heritage. The specific pieces of jewelry are identified as dating back to 700 BC. This fashion choice has triggered a significant backlash, as the accessory worn during the press tour has moved from a style discussion to a broader debate regarding the ethics of displaying historical items. Multiple major news outlets are tracking the development of this story.


According to reports from The Guardian and The Telegraph, Zendaya is facing backlash specifically for the choice of these Iranian accessories. Euronews.com has emphasized that the jewelry has stirred a wider debate concerning looted artifacts. Additional coverage from The New York Times and The Daily Beast confirms that the Hollywood star's accessory choice for the press tour has sparked a notable backlash among observers and cultural critics. To understand the gravity of the current situation, the coverage highlights the extreme age and origin of the items. The Times specifies that the earrings are from Iran and date back to 700 BC.


This historical context is central to the accusations of cultural hijacking and the questions regarding how such ancient artifacts entered the fashion circuit. The debate centers on the tension between high-fashion red carpet appearances and the preservation of national heritage, particularly regarding the legality and morality of wearing items that may be looted artifacts. Observers are now monitoring how the actress or her representatives will respond to the accusations of hijacking Iranian heritage. The focus remains on the origin of the 700 BC earrings and whether further information will emerge regarding the provenance of the jewelry. Based on the reporting from The Guardian and Euronews.com, the primary point of contention is the status of these pieces as potential looted artifacts, and future developments will likely depend on the verification of the jewelry's legal ownership and acquisition history.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| The Telegraph | Zendaya accused of ‘hijacking’ Iranian heritage with ancient earrings | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNSDNRR1RHNjZKSWtGRm81MlFGY0luVDdyalI0YkM0dWc3MGxIZmpkT1phOUNieHhBUGhyYTdHYkdUQnM1TVZmYWk3OTl5Wm84Q3ZCS2FjSGtmM29JTlFyWWJSR0FBdDRsOXpZcmtXdWVMeE5Pa20wSE5pU0dsRndRUEtqcGN6eEE?oc=5) |
| The Daily Beast | Hollywood Star Sparks Backlash With Press Tour Accessory | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxPOUdYcW5CeWNpcF82OElYRW13dy1rZzA4WUZKQmgxNFA2SVFNREd0N1NBUlNYbk1BeGlNM3cwZ2kyUTd6YjBqWElMRHdXc3VLQVFLanlFUEJaQmFVTElvcmJRaTlnVGNqRjJqMjBDV0hORGlNSk5QU2lwSktUdk1ZcUcycjlmcWdu?oc=5) |
| The Times | Earrings: 700BC, from Iran — Zendaya and the red carpet arms race | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxPQWJxdDBFV09IdnVWaXFtLUlHekwyNGRHV0F4aS15NU42Um14bzExUWdFbDFQVlR1djhfRmp5cmNLcjdzb0tEMmR3Y1JWQTFjMXJRblo1RjlWQ0FRdTl6aWRkdEp4VEs4dVhiUnlwdHFRUXRvX1NUNlNEMktpWFJlcElDYnk5ZVdZcGxDeXVDNm92VkV6R3gyTnVSa2xSel9nS1Q1M19LTFRxQ00?oc=5) |
| Euronews.com | Zendaya's ancient Iranian earrings stir debate over looted artefacts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOTjlzaFhDbGh0T184UFFYRVdnbE5VYmgydWh6cnBXZENWTG9QMXZqQy1WeHdzdmpLMC1LVVdXcld1bWtjdXlpak45cTJTZDA4VWpUY0tINVpSZ2xqM09PcUJPbzZuRE1lenRaN1JMS3RzcHJJdTh6ZGtDQ2E1QXA1SjV5Qi1QbTFfbU14Q1VSNmcyZnBkOFdCdVBUbFZVU2xxWnpucm9n?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Zendaya faces backlash for wearing ancient Iranian jewellery at Odyssey event | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxPR2w5QXpVNkJ2Rnk3cC14Qlp0Wm5acmdOYUJYRG9aQ0pJSmUyNThTbkJ6blFkd1JmU1A1RFh5UVZIaFZVamxhbHlDUTctOHVrSFlYNWptM0tNbWR4UmpINUVVSm1RZHY2YUFtbkE2T2tmNGdaRVZIeTY0X2VyaXpmaTJLVU56WUZYWkJUZzdOMUtpNk1tTURvWmV3dFh1TVNmb2hBbWNzZ3dIWjNrWjhXZU4xd2hCb0FxcWo4SzJKLTNldjQ?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Debate Over Ancient Iranian Jewelry Worn by Zendaya to ‘Odyssey’ Event | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxQX0F3T1RSYmU1SjNIbmp6WEthSkNRdnQzTENINTdsRnRpYkdaTUYtdXp3MWhQejlaREtPUXlnRkIzWHZvTjNlYW5HcUlnNlYzYlo0Zkc3Y1ZuY25DM20tdDlTZ1VZajJVQ0dPME5TcUk5cWE0aHluOEhDczJWeE9wdC01Y2M?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-23/debate-over-ancient-iranian-jewelry-worn-by-zendaya-to-odyssey-event*