Are Ariana Grande, Zendaya in 'Secret Rivalry'? Insiders Claim Tension Over Overlapping Movie Roles

A few years ago, pairing Ariana Grande and Zendaya in the same sentence felt like a pop culture coincidence. Now, it signals something more: two powerhouse brands competing for the same top roles, luxury deals and front-row dominance.

A quick overview of the claim: a source speaking to In Touch alleges that the pair are 'constantly competing' as their acting and endorsement work begins to overlap. It is not sheriff's office–level seriousness, but the language is sharp enough to resonate.

The more important detail is also the least provable. No one has put their name to these claims, and neither star has publicly confirmed anything like a feud, so it all deserves a grain of salt until someone accountable is willing to stand behind it.​

Grande and Zendaya Navigate Rising Competition

The report, published by In Touch and syndicated by Yahoo, insists 'there's no love lost' between the two former child stars, arguing they have 'been on parallel tracks' since Grande's Nickelodeon years on Victorious and Zendaya's Disney Channel run on Shake It Up. It says the rivalry supposedly 'ramped up' once Grande, 32, stepped into the role of Glinda for 2024's Wicked and its sequel.

The unnamed source claims Grande's move into film has changed the competitive temperature. 'Until the last two years, Ari had mostly stuck to music,' the source says, adding that she and Zendaya, 29, are now 'constantly competing for opportunities, from movie contracts to product endorsements and fashion deals, because they have overlapping fanbases of women who grew up with them.'

Then comes the bluntest line in the piece. 'There's real money involved.'​ There is also a practical complication that sounds almost too on the nose to be real life. The source says the two women share team members, including celebrity stylist Law Roach.

'It would just be easier for everybody in their orbits if Zendaya and Ariana could find some common ground or something to team up on,' the source adds. 'Neither one of them has made any move in that direction, though.'​

It is worth stating the obvious, because the internet rarely does. A shared stylist does not equal a secret feud. Still, in a world where public image is treated like an audited account, even small overlaps can become strangely personal.

Holiday Releases Set Up Potential Box-Office Clash

The report leans hard on timing, pointing to a looming holiday season that could put both women in the same commercial conversation. Grande's next film, Focker In-Law, is scheduled for a US theatrical release on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, according to industry listings. Zendaya's Dune: Part Three is slated for Friday, Dec. 18, 2026, with entertainment outlets reporting that date as confirmed.

That creates a clean narrative that entertainment writing loves, even when real audiences behave messier than story arcs. The source quoted by In Touch claims 2026 will be 'the first year' the two are in 'direct competition for ticket sales,' adding, 'Nobody is going to be watching those numbers closer than they are!'​

IBTimes UK contacted representatives for Grande and Zendaya for comment and did not immediately receive a response. The silence does not prove anything, but it does leave a familiar vacuum, the kind gossip gladly fills.

For readers outside the US, it helps to know Thanksgiving week is one of Hollywood's most aggressive release windows, a time when studios bet on families, travel and habit. If Focker In-Law lands as planned and Dune: Part Three holds its date, the collision is real enough, even if the supposed bad blood remains strictly anonymous.