Over the years, they spoke fondly about their friendship, while also dodging romance rumours – but that’s obviously no longer the case. The sweet couple seem to support each other every time they speak of one another or when they’re out and about.

So let’s take a look at the complete timeline of their relationship:

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2016: Tom Holland and Zendaya meet during her audition process for Spider-Man: Homecoming

Holland had already been cast as Peter Parker/Spider-Man back in 2015 after doing multiple auditions around the world. He would go on to make his Marvel debut in Captain America: Civil War, released in May 2016.

In March 2016, it was reported that Zendaya would join him in Homecoming. She recalled their chemistry, telling Variety in 2017: “He says when we first met, it was super awkward because he went for a handshake and I went for a hug. But I don’t remember that. I thought it was cool.”

The actress did say that she was “worried” because Holland is “so much shorter” than her, but the audition was done with the stars sitting down, so it went well.

Holland also told THR that he “didn’t really know what to expect with Zendaya”, but was relieved when he met her. “I was so surprised and so happy she’s one of the most professional, hardworking people I’ve ever met in my life,” he said.

July 10, 2016: Holland posted his first photo with Zendaya on Instagram

“Summer Sundays,” he captioned the photo, which showed him, Zendaya and another person in a pool.

November 2016: Holland and Zendaya appear in their first-ever joint cover, for The Hollywood Reporter

Zendaya shared a photo of the magazine cover on Instagram and wrote: “Amidst all the chaos and sadness … this one good thing did happen to me today. Honoured to share it with the very best … Spider-Man himself @tomholland2013.”

She also called them the “dream team” in another Instagram post, while Holland wrote: “Over the moon with my first cover. So grateful that I got to share it with the one and only @zendaya. Thanks mate for helping me out.”

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May 7, 2017: Holland and Zendaya’s now-iconic “Lip Sync Battle” airs on MTV and cements its place in pop culture

Zendaya knocked out her performance of Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic”. But it was Holland’s sensational, jaw-dropping mash-up of Gene Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” that stole the show.

“I get more compliments on the lip sync battle than I do for any of my actual work, ever, to the point where now I’m over it,” Holland said in his 2019 Wired autocomplete interview.

The actor later told Esquire that it was the most nerve-racking thing he’s ever done and he wouldn’t do it again. Meanwhile, Zendaya told Entertainment Weekly that she and Holland are “very competitive with everything” because of their battle.

July 2017: Holland jokingly calls Zendaya his first celebrity crush, before admitting that it was actually Jennifer Aniston

“I loved her,” Holland told PopBuzz, admitting that he crushed on Aniston during her time as Rachel Green on Friends.

July 13, 2017: People reports that Holland and Zendaya are dating, but the stars swiftly deny it

“They started seeing each other while they were filming Spider-Man,” an anonymous source told People. “They’ve been super careful to keep it private and out of the public eye but they’ve gone on holidays with each other and try and spend as much time as possible with one another.”

The actors then took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to joke about the report.

“Wait, wait … my favourite is when it says we go on holidays together, ha! I haven’t been on a holiday in years! HBU @TomHolland1996 ???” Zendaya wrote at the time. In response, Holland said: “Does the press tour count??”

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September 1, 2017: Holland shares a post on Instagram in honour of Zendaya’s 21st birthday

“Thinking about how to get taller. Happy birthday mate. Miss you and I’ll have a drink for you. #21stbirthday,” he captioned two images of them standing together while in character as Peter and MJ during a photo shoot.

May 2018: Holland applauds “queen” Zendaya’s Met Gala outfit

June 1, 2018: Zendaya shares a silly video of Holland in honour of his 22nd birthday

“Happy birthday loser … @tomholland2013,” she captioned a video, which showed Holland fighting Batalon with a lightsabre before falling to the ground in laughter.

July 2, 2019: Spider-Man: Far From Home is released in cinemas

Peter and MJ’s relationship blossomed in the sequel, as they headed to Europe as part of a class trip. Holland described their dynamic to ET Canada as “puppy love”, while Zendaya told Entertainment Weekly that it felt like a “natural progression of a 16-year-old’s relationship where you have a crush on somebody”.

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February 2021: Holland names Zendaya as one of his biggest mentors

In an interview with Backstage, the actor said that he, Zendaya and Batalon “all became best mates” when they filmed the first Spider-Man film. Holland called Zendaya, who rose to fame through her starring role on the Disney Channel show Shake It Up, as “the perfect person”.

“It was so wonderful to have someone like her in my corner, to help me grow through that process,” he said.

July 1, 2021: The stars are photographed kissing after years of dating rumours

On July 2, US media published photos that were taken the previous day, showing the pair kissing in an Audi driven by Holland. Another image showed the stars laughing with each other inside the car.

Photos later published by TMZ and People showed Holland and Zendaya dining at a Thai eatery the day before they were photographed kissing. According to British media, they also spent the Fourth of July weekend together in Santa Barbara.

August 2021: They attend a wedding together in California

According to US media, the actors were celebrating the wedding of a friend named Josh Florez in Simi Valley, California. An attendee named Esteban Camarillo posted a group photo on his Instagram story, which showed Zendaya leaning her head on Holland. Fan accounts for Holland also reposted additional photos and videos that showed them dancing and posing together at the event.

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September 1, 2021: Holland calls Zendaya “My MJ” in a post for her 25th birthday

“My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Gimme a call when you’re up,” he captioned a mirror selfie taken by Zendaya that showed him dressed as the web-slinger, presumably in a trailer on the set of the Spider-Man.

November 17, 2021: Holland and Zendaya comment on their relationship going public

In a cover story for GQ’s Men of the Year issue, Holland said that he and Zendaya “sort of felt robbed of our privacy” when paparazzi took photos of them in July and released them.

“One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control any more, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world,” he said.

Zendaya shared similar comments, telling GQ: “It was quite strange and weird and confusing and invasive.”

November 29, 2021: They kick off the global press tour for No Way Home

Holland and Zendaya attended the 2021 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony in Paris, France. The event was held at Theatre du Chatelet and the pair were joined by Holland’s brothers, Harry and Sam. Zendaya channelled Doc Ock in a backless Roberto Cavalli dress.

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The couple joked about their height difference and how it affects filming during the press tour for No Way Home.

“There’s a particular stunt – Spider-Man swings us on top of the bridge, we eventually jump off of [it], and he’s supposed to gently rest MJ on the bridge and walk away from her,” Zendaya explained during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show.

The stars said that they decided that Zendaya would catch Holland because she reaches the ground before him. “It’s so nice to be caught for a change!” Holland said.

December 15, 2021: Zendaya calls Holland “My Spider-Man” in a post shared ahead of the release of No Way Home

She shared two photos of the actor, one of him dressed in his Spidey suit and attached to wires, and another of him dressed as the character as a child. “My Spider-Man, I’m so proud of you, some things never change and good thing,” she wrote, adding a heart emoji and a tag for the actor’s Instagram account.

February 18, 2022: Holland denies reports that he bought a new house in London with Zendaya

“I’ve had so many people call me up because, apparently, I bought a new house in South London? Which is completely false,” Holland told co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest during an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan.

The prior month, British media reported that Holland was spending millions renovating his home, located not too far from his parents’ home in London. British media also reported that the couple would be moving into Holland’s renovated home.

“They are very much in love and wanted their first home to be in London where Tom grew up,” an anonymous source said. “Everyone is thrilled for them.”

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June 1, 2022: Zendaya shares a black-and-white photo of her and Holland in honour of his 26th birthday

“Happiest of birthdays to the one who makes me the happiest,” she captioned the image on Instagram. In response, Holland commented on the post with three red heart emojis.

September 12, 2022: Zendaya reveals that Holland was the first person she texted following her Emmys win

“Well, I didn’t have to text my mum because my mum was already there, she’s here tonight, which is very special,” Zendaya told E!’s Tim Kash about winning the outstanding lead actress in a drama series Emmy for her role on Euphoria.

“And I texted my boyfriend,” she added.

In a separate interview with Entertainment Tonight on Emmys night, Zendaya explained that she didn’t single out Holland during her acceptance speech because “he’s part of my loved ones!”

November 30, 2022: Zendaya’s mum seemingly reacts to viral rumours that the Euphoria star and Holland are engaged

In late November, Us Weekly published an article with a source claiming that Zendaya and Holland are “both in settling-down mode and are absolutely planning for a real future together”.

Days later, the verified X account for the fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing shared a post about the actors “reportedly considering getting married and starting a family”. The brand cited the Instagram account for the company Pubity and the post amassed more than 18,000 likes.

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Then, a few days, later X posts by unverified accounts @ThePopTingz, @thepophive and @westenthu accumulated thousands of likes and reposts. Despite concrete proof, fans online began posting their reactions to the news – some of which went viral.

Zendaya’s mum, Claire Stoermer, seemingly reacted to viral rumours by posting a screenshot of a note containing the definition of “clickbait” on her Instagram Story.

April to May 2023: Holland and Zendaya are caught hanging out and showing PDA during various outings

Fans saw the stars having a blast at an Usher concert in late April. Days later, they were seen in San Francisco watching a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Paparazzi also snapped photos of them being affectionate while on a boat ride in Venice, Italy in May.

June 14, 2023: Holland says that he’s “happy and in love”

When asked about the secret to his charisma in an interview with BuzzFeed, Holland replied: “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz,” he said. “I need you to fall in love with me, really, for it to work.”

January 12, 2024: Holland assures fans that he and Zendaya didn’t break up after she unfollowed everyone on Instagram

Holland was asked about the rumours when TMZ caught him and his brother Harry in West Hollywood, California.

“No, no, no,” Holland said. “Absolutely not.”

February 15, 2024: Holland supports Zendaya at the world premiere of Dune: Part 2

Holland didn’t walk the red carpet at Leicester Square in London, but video footage showed the Spider-Man star and his family watching as Zendaya astonished attendees in a 1995 Mugler robot suit. The couple was later photographed wearing all-black outfits and holding hands as they left the film’s after-party.

February 2024: Zendaya raves about Holland’s charisma while taking part in BuzzFeed’s puppy interview

Zendaya was asked which of her Dune co-stars has the most “rizz”. Instead of naming a co-star from the sci-fi franchise, she mentioned Holland.

“I think someone who has beautiful charisma, not on the Dune cast, but personally works for me, is Mr. Tom Holland,” she said.

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April 10, 2024: Holland supports Zendaya at the UK premiere of Challengers