Source: AP Images
Growing up, I always worried that a boy I was interested in would say or do the wrong thing in front of my father, ensuring that we would never make it as a couple. I dreaded any suitor meeting my father for more than that reason though. Blame it on patriarchy; but it’s an awkward interaction watching the man who raised you come to the realization that another man or young boy is trying to, from the vantage point of your father, get in your pants or take his place in your life. As luck would have it, I didn’t start dating seriously until I was on my way out my parent’s house. Which made the process much, much easier.
But things are obviously a bit different for actress Zendaya.
Though Zendaya is technically grown at 19, she’s still a teenager and obviously still her daddy’s baby. And that’s why her father has been chaperoning her recent dates with football player Odell Beckham Jr., who’s 23.
When the two stepped out for what appeared to be a date. The paparazzi wasn’t too far behind them. But instead of speaking to Zendaya or Odell, it was her father, Kazembe Coleman, who stopped and said something to the media.
When TMZ asked the elder Coleman whether or not he approved of this relationship, he was quick to correct them.
“What relationship? There’s no relationship. We’re just friends.
TMZ: Are you chaperoning this event?
Daddy Coleman: Absolutely. When you see my daughter out on a date without me, it’s a relationship.
TMZ: So right now, it’s supervision.
Daddy Coleman: It’s like an audition. It’s an interview.
Before, I did my research I was like dannnnnnnnng her daddy ain’t playing! But now that I know she’s not even in her twenties yet, I can understand it a bit better. We’ve all known or been the teenage girl who was played by an older man. And though Odell is something like a baby himself, he’s a professional athlete and a popular one at that. And he’s still a man, with a few years on her. Plus, this is not a normal dating situation. Hollywood has a way of speeding up the maturation process or giving people things before they’re really mature enough to handle it. And as we’ve seen with folks like Kylie Jenner, that includes dating, very public relationships and in most cases, sex.
But when I first saw her father’s brief interview, I immediately thought of the real world, outside of Hollywood. I specifically thought of myself. If my father insisted on chaperoning one of my dates, I don’t know if I’d even want to go through with it. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world but no one would be relaxed. Ain’t gon’ be no flirting. He’s not going to whisper in your ear, more or less touch you with your dad watching him like a hawk. Most of the conversations would be stiff and unnaturally polite. And a goodnight kiss, hell even a hug, is out of the question. We always talk about people sending their representatives in the first few months of dating, well homeboy would be sending an entire alter ego to a date with your father. You’re not going to learn all that much about who he really is.
But I guess there is something to be said about a man who’s so interested in you, he’s willing to take it all the way back to the old school to prove to your father that he’s worthy of your time and affections.
If this was your life, back when you first started dating, would you go on a date if your father insisted on chaperoning or would you cancel?
