Tom Holland’s rain-soaked Lip Sync Battle performance is back in the spotlight after a new report claimed the viral 2017 routine helped win over Zendaya long before they became one of Hollywood’s most watched couples.
The performance aired during the promotional run for Spider-Man: Homecoming, when Holland and Zendaya were still publicly framed as co-stars. Holland opened with “Singin’ in the Rain,” then switched into Rihanna’s “Umbrella” in fishnets, black shorts, a corset-style top and a wig while rain effects poured over the stage.
A new report claims the performance left Zendaya “smitten” and helped change how she saw him. The clip has stayed alive online for years partly because Zendaya’s reaction from the side of the stage became almost as famous as Holland’s choreography.
The renewed interest comes after Holland recently confirmed that he and Zendaya are married, turning an old viral TV moment into a fresh piece of their public relationship timeline.
The ‘Umbrella’ Performance Became a Viral Tom Holland Moment
Holland’s Lip Sync Battle routine worked because he did not treat it like a throwaway celebrity bit. He committed to the costume change, choreography and stage rain, turning the Rihanna number into a full performance rather than a quick joke.
Page Six reported that a source said the routine showed Zendaya a different side of Holland, with his confidence and talent standing out more than the outfit itself. InStyle also noted that fans have long treated Zendaya’s laughing, cheering reaction as one of the clip’s best details.
The performance has followed Holland almost as closely as some of his film roles. In a recent conversation, he acknowledged that the “Umbrella” routine is still one of the things people bring up most often when they recognize him.
Holland and Zendaya met through Spider-Man: Homecoming, stayed private for years and eventually became public as a couple, while the Lip Sync Battle footage kept circulating as an early snapshot of their chemistry.
Holland Recently Confirmed the Couple’s Marriage
The renewed attention around the clip follows Holland’s recent comments about fake AI-generated wedding photos. In an Esquire UK interview, he said his grandmother had been upset after seeing the fake images because she thought she had not been invited.
When asked whether he had to correct other family members, Holland replied, “No, because they were all there.” People and The Guardian reported the comment as confirmation that he and Zendaya are married, though Holland declined to share details about the ceremony.
