Law Roach says he's not 'breaking up' with Zendaya after announcing that he's retiring from celebrity styling
- On Tuesday, Law Roach announced on Instagram that he was retiring from being a stylist.
- In a tweet shared on Wednesday, he said his retirement didn't mean he was "breaking up" with Zendaya.
Law Roach clarified what his retirement means for his relationship with Zendaya.
On Tuesday, Roach announced he was retiring as a stylist through an Instagram post, writing: "My Cup is empty….. thank you to everyone who've supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, I'm so grateful for you all."
He added: "If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately it's not! The politics, the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win … I'm out."
In a statement provided to Insider on Friday, Roach reiterated that he will use this "step away from celebrity styling" as a chance to focus on himself.
"For me fashion has always been a love, not a job," he said. "I've spent so much time and energy nurturing this love and it has become my way of communicating with the world. I don't plan to walk away from it entirely, I am just going to take some time to step away from celebrity styling and focus on myself for the first time in nearly decade."
The news came as a shock to Roach's fans and the fashion world, as he is the mastermind behind many of the most memorable celebrity looks from recent years.
Many fans immediately began questioning what Roach's news meant for his relationship with Zendaya. Roach has worked with Zendaya for years, almost single-handedly transforming her into a style it-girl in Hollywood.
But on Wednesday, Roach shared on Twitter that his retirement from styling didn't mean he was stepping back from his relationship with the "Euphoria" actor.
"So y'all really think I'm breaking up with Z….. we are forever!" he tweeted. He followed up with another tweet about Zendaya, writing: "She's my little sister and it's real love not the fake industry love."
Roach also confirmed to Vogue on Wednesday that he was retiring as a celebrity stylist, shutting down those on social media who asked if his Instagram post was a "PR stunt." He told the outlet he decided to retire because he wanted to "relieve some pressure for myself."
"I was riding in the car and I made a decision," he told Vogue. "I said: 'You know what, I've done everything I wanted to do in this career. I've received all the awards, the accolades, I've changed people's lives…And I just feel like, I've had enough, you know?'"
"So that Instagram post wasn't a PR stunt," he said. "It was really me giving myself the grace to say, 'It's OK. You can do something else.'"
Roach spoke of his love for styling during a conversation with Insider's Amanda Krause in February.
"Styling is like a drug for me when I know I get it right," he said. "Whoever I'm dressing, when they have that extra little thing — a little spark or a little wiggle in their walk — I just love that feeling."
He also told Krause he was energized by the new designers entering the industry as he thought about the future of fashion.
"I'm enjoying seeing young designers and independent designers who just show their collections and celebrate. It just seems like there's so much talent right now, and that's really exciting to me," he said.
Roach told Vogue he plans to continue working in the fashion industry, just not as a stylist. It seems modeling may be in his future, as he spoke to Vogue after making his debut as a model for Boss. He also told the outlet he plans to teach.
"I want to be more involved with people who look like me who want to figure out how to have the opportunity to do things that I've done," he said to Vogue. "I want that to be my legacy, a legacy that I've really helped change people's lives – and not just the celebrities' by putting them in the best dress, you know?"