Claire Stoermer, the mother of actress Zendaya, has hit back at negative comments about her appearance on Instagram, calling the online criticism sad and frustrating.
The 62-year-old stood her ground on Wednesday by sharing a screenshot on her Instagram story to address hurtful messages that appeared on her personal social media feed.
Addressing her followers directly, Stoermer expressed concern over how online platforms affect users. She explained that she understood why some individuals choose to step away from social networks entirely to protect their psychological well-being.
"I totally get why people have to give up Instagram for their mental health," Stoermer wrote in her statement. "If I was to go and read all the comments on this post about myself, I could feel really bad. There are some terrible, horrible comments, I did read some of them."
Despite the mean-spirited remarks, the former educator emphasized that she refused to let the criticism diminish her self-worth or disrupt her emotional peace.
"And thank goodness I don't take that s*** personally," Stoermer continued. "Once upon a time I may have. And if I was a young person, I know I definitely would have. It's sad and frustrating."
Managing online criticism
To conclude her post, the doting mother referenced the popular personal growth book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, which outlines principles for personal freedom and emotional resilience.
"One of them is don't take anything personally, it has nothing to do with you," Stoermer explained, reminding her followers that external judgments reflect the speaker rather than the target.
Stoermer now runs her own independent business, Kizzmet Jewelry. Her custom handcrafted pieces are frequently worn by her famous daughter at high-profile public appearances and industry events.
California-born Zendaya, now 30, shares an exceptionally close relationship with her mother and her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, 66. Coleman previously managed Zendaya's entertainment career during her breakout roles on the Disney Channel.
Although Zendaya's parents divorced when the actress was a child, the former couple have maintained an amicable relationship over the years, with Zendaya previously revealing that her parents are "still homies."
Teaching career in Oakland
Zendaya, who recently tied the knot with her Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland, has repeatedly credited her mother as her ultimate role model and inspiration.
In a 2016 interview with Teen Vogue, the Emmy-winning performer recalled watching her mother dedicate her life to educating young students in underfunded public schools in Northern California.
"Growing up, I watched my mom teach in the heart of Oakland, California, at inner-city schools that were always underfunded," Zendaya said at the time. "My mom went above and beyond, working constantly to open her students' eyes to an education that could lift them far beyond their current circumstances."
Zendaya added that her mother introduced students to cultural subjects that expanded their horizons beyond their immediate environment. "She would introduce them to the arts, guide them through the language of Shakespeare, and show them the wonders of nature outside city life: all things that they wouldn't have experienced otherwise," Zendaya noted. "Watching her was magical; it instilled within me a true appreciation of and devotion to the importance of education."
Family values and heritage
The actress expressed similar sentiments during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, praising both of her parents for keeping her grounded throughout her career in Hollywood.
"I gotta give it up to my parents," Zendaya told host Ellen DeGeneres. "I'm really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything. I give it up to them, I give it up to my family."
Family heritage also plays a prominent role in the household. Zendaya has Scottish and German ancestry on her mother's side, alongside African American ancestry on her father's side.
Stoermer previously spoke about her family's roots in an exclusive statement to the Daily Mail, highlighting her daughter's appreciation for her international lineage.
"Zendaya knows about her Scottish heritage and is proud of it," Stoermer said. "She hasn't been to Scotland yet, but I know she'd love to visit some time."
