Before he was known worldwide as Spider-Man, Tom Holland made waves in a different kind of performance — one that involved fishnets, a wig, and a rain machine. His 2017 Lip Sync Battle routine set to Rihanna’s “Umbrella” has since become the stuff of internet legend. But as Holland recently revealed on Gordon Ramsay’s YouTube series, the viral moment came with a bit of behind-the-scenes drama — especially with his now-fiancée Zendaya.
According to Holland, the pair had agreed to keep things low-key for the show. “We made a pact,” he said. “The plan was to go easy — no wild choreography, no costumes, just chill performances.” That didn’t last long.
As rehearsals progressed, Holland said the production team kept pitching bigger ideas — and he couldn’t resist. The performance snowballed into a full-scale spectacle, blending “Singing in the Rain” with “Umbrella” and featuring elaborate props, backup dancers, and his now-famous outfit: a cropped black wig, leotard, and fishnet stockings. “Those fishnets were actually my granny’s,” he joked to Ramsay, who’d asked if they belonged to his mom.
Eventually, Holland decided to fully embrace the over-the-top energy. “I just thought, screw it — if I’m doing this, I’m doing it all the way,” he said.
To his relief, Zendaya ended up breaking the pact too, delivering an electric performance of Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” that rivaled Holland’s in flair and energy.
Looking back, Holland says the whole experience helped fans see a new side of him. “People didn’t know I could dance — even though I did Billy Elliot on the West End. I kept that part quiet for some reason,” he said. “But then I just went for it.”
His Lip Sync Battle moment remains one of the most beloved (and rewatched) clips of the series — and arguably one of the most unexpectedly legendary performances in modern pop culture.
SOURCE: Billboard