Zendaya Confirms She’s Still Working With Law Roach and Explains Louis Vuitton Show Drama

Zendaya’s close friend and longtime stylist Law Roach shocked the industry when he announced his retirement as a celebrity stylist in March. But he has continued to work with Zendaya in a bigger role as her creative director, both Roach and Zendaya told ELLE in Zendaya’s September cover story.

“I ride super hard for my team, especially for people I love,” Zendaya said. “He’s involved in every fashion contract, everything I do. If I have an opportunity where he can come with me, he’s always going to be there. He’s always been my creative director in a sense, and he continues to fill that role, because it’s more than just clothes on a red carpet.”

Roach confirmed the creative director move too, telling ELLE, “Our relationship is like family, so I don’t think I’m going anywhere—and even if I wanted to, she wouldn’t let me.”

Zendaya and Law Roach in 2017.

Zendaya also addressed the Louis Vuitton seating drama from March, where a video went viral of her taking a seat in the front row and Roach being confused about why his seat wasn’t next to hers. Some people read into Zendaya’s body language with him, wondering if the two longtime collaborators had split.

Zendaya explained they had gotten stuck in traffic and were rushing to their seats. “When it happened, I said, ‘Oh no, I hope people don’t try to create something from this,’” she recalled. She explained that after she was seated, they tried to find Roach’s assigned seat, with her pointing to a row behind her. It turns out that wasn’t because she was trying to tell Roach he was supposed to sit there; it was her showing Roach her assistant Darnell Appling’s seat.

“We’re so used to sitting together that he didn’t know where to go,” Zendaya said. “But obviously, people want to assume the worst of the situation, which is not always easy to deal with and hurtful.”

Roach told ELLE that Zendaya has always had his back. “I’m grateful for her giving me the opportunity to shine,” he said. “It’s not often that such a big superstar like that is very generous and understanding when someone wants to step out. She’s been one of my biggest supporters.”

Senior News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.