Inside the Zendaya Hat Theory: TikTok’s Wild Met Gala 2025 Fixation

Zendaya amazed everyone at the Met Gala 2025 in a white Louis Vuitton suit. But the real buzz? It was the hat that did it — within hours, TikTok’s For You Page was completely overrun with the now-viral “Zendaya Hat Theory.” Users claimed her hat had a “secret meaning.” Even online communities that track pop culture—like those on 22Bet Online, where fans discuss entertainment between games—couldn’t escape the wave of memes and theories.

A simple joke turned into a big internet craze. Now, everyone is asking: what’s up with Zendaya’s hat? Here’s everything you need to know — how the theory started, who kicked it off, and why social media is completely obsessed.

What Is the “Zendaya Hat Theory?”

Only three days ago, TikToker @thesnakesbloxx posted the video that kicked off the whole “Zendaya Hat Theory,” and it has already racked up more than 2 million views. It’s all based on one question: Will Zendaya wear the giant hat from her 2014 Teen Vogue event at the 2025 Met Gala? Then, it evolved into a joke about what’s underneath that hat.

Why TikTok Can’t Let It Go: Memes, Reactions & Wild Fan Theories

One TikTok even mocked up a fake “missing person” file, joking that Tom Holland might be hiding under Zendaya’s oversized hat.

Where Did the Meme Originate From?

There are only three certainties: death, taxes, and the unforgettable early 2000s Teen Vogue parties that still haunt us. From Selena Gomez to Debby Ryan, everybody loves a great TV red carpet moment. Of course, sharing that limelight is another star: Zendaya. The whole joke traces back to her memorable oversized hat and Armani suit from the 2014 Teen Vogue Young Hollywood party.

Fans have been talking about this fashion choice for over ten years. Even during the biggest night in fashion, fans couldn’t stop obsessing over it.

And while the hat theory is all a big internet joke, Zendaya still loves the fashion moment from 2014. “I still come across memes about that outfit,” she admitted in a Vogue interview, saying she actually thinks the look is still chic. Zendaya joked about possibly pulling the original hat “out of the archives someday.” She shared that her stylist, Law Roach, still has it stored away. This gives fans hope for another red carpet sighting.

What Zendaya’s Met Gala Hat Signifies in Fashion Culture

Many fans of the Dune actress love this hat. It has become a big meme. Because this year’s theme focused on Black dandyism, fans were convinced she’d revisit the iconic hat from 2014. So when Zendaya arrived in a striking all-white look complete with a new hat, social media exploded with excitement. They felt the “Zendaya Hat Theory” was finally confirmed. Some viewers speculated that the snake-shaped pin on her suit was a nod to @thesnakesbloxx. This TikTok creator kicked off the entire hat theory. Fans are fascinated by the thought that Zendaya’s 2014 hat moment shaped her Met look. Yet, we still don’t know the exact references she and stylist Law Roach used to craft it.

Conclusion

It’s a mix of nostalgia, humor, and fashion, with a dash of a celebrity being in on the joke. One playful TikTok video turned into an enormous fandom moment. Proof that Zendaya’s impact extends so much farther than any red carpet. Of course, fans have parsed the meaning behind her 2025 Met Gala hat. Whether it was a clever callback or a chic statement’s all part of the fun. As long as Zendaya keeps serving up iconic looks and references to her fashion archive, the internet will continue to come up with theories, one hat at a time.