What to Know
For every celebrity who shares every part of their life publicly (looking at you Kardashians), there are celebrities who choose to keep their lives private. Over the years, especially since the invention of social media, people have created certain expectations around celebrities and what we demand of them. But at the end of the day, these are people who are doing a public facing job. Recently, comments actor Tom Holland made about the machine that is Hollywood resurfaced. And people have a lot of opinions about how he chooses to move through the industry.
Holland got really honest about his experiences.
🚨 Tom Holland on Why He Keeps His Distance From Hollywood
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) March 29, 2026
“Had I not walked away from certain situations, let's just put it at that, I would be a very different person today … I really do not like Hollywood. It is not for me. The business really scares me.” pic.twitter.com/szlVJvDRu2
A clip of the Spiderman star speaking with Jay Shetty on his podcast in 2023 is making the rounds on X, and it’s bringing up a lot of feelings for people. In the clip, Holland speaks openly about how he’s rejected the flashy Hollywood lifestyle for his own safety.
“Had I not walked away from certain situations, let’s just put it at that, I would be a very different person today … I really do not like Hollywood. It is not for me. The business really scares me,” he said.
Holland also shared that he’s seen others “lose themselves” while working in the entertainment industry, which makes him work harder to protect his own identity. To keep this from happening, he tends to focus more of his energy on friends, family, and his interests outside of acting.
Many people commended Tom Holland for trying to separate his life from his work.
Tom Holland staying grounded and setting boundaries in an industry like that is actually smart.
— Earth -10005 (@Earth_10005) March 29, 2026
Hollywood can change people fast, so knowing when to step back probably helped him stay who he is
“Admiring your craft doesn’t mean you have to love the system….sometimes protecting your sanity and values is smarter than chasing fame,” one user wrote.
“Tom Holland staying grounded and setting boundaries in an industry like that is actually smart. Hollywood can change people fast, so knowing when to step back probably helped him stay who he is,” another comment read.
Someone else added that it “Sounds like he’s prioritizing his own well-being over the glamour of Hollywood 💯.”
“Tom Holland seems really self-aware — he’s chosen his own path instead of getting swallowed by Hollywood pressures. It’s impressive he knows his limits and protects his mental space, even if it means stepping back from the spotlight,” a different comment read.
“Two things can be true the love for the art/craft but not the business/organizations that exist within it. We need more celebrities like Tom Holland. He understands the blessings he’s been given and opportunities that are present but still holds true to himself. Bravo 👏🏼,” another person shared.
However, many other people seemed to believe that he isn’t allowed to feel that way and benefit from the industry.
Tom Holland has two very high profile films set to be released in 2026: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and “The Odyssey,” both of which also star his longtime romantic partner Zendaya.
“So scared of Hollywood he accidentally signed for 3 more Spider-Mans,” one person remarked.
“He’s just another ultra-narcissist from Hollywood. He’s just a little less hypocritical about it. Stop judging these liars by their classic lines in a few separate, tightly controlled talks,” someone else wrote.
“I don’t like how he does the “Hollywood is weird” thing when he is one of the highest earning actors and the face of a multibillion dollar franchise. You are Hollywood!” another person claimed.
Others brought up his relationship with actress Zendaya.
“But he’s with Zendaya who is 100% Hollywood,” someone argued.
“Well him and his partner has made enough firm and money from it.. so he can bite the hand that fed him now,” someone else wrote.
Not all of the comments were negative though. One person wrote “🙌🏾🙌🏾 I see why Zendaya chose him… a man that stands on his integrity in this day and age is a gem…”
“I understand why Zendaya is so drawn to him and eventually got married with this man, he is just so mature in so many ways, he has his own standards and goals in life and he knows how to navigate himself around the Hollywood chaos, he makes himself as a safe space to go back to,” someone else added.
