Zendaya awkwardly swerves Paul Mescal after he offers arm at SAG Awards

Viewers who tuned into the 2023 SAG Awards last night believe they spotted a very awkward encounter between Zendaya and Paul Mescal.

The Euphoria actress and the Academy Award-nominated actor were in attendance at last night's 29^th Screen Actors Guild Awards (26 February) to present the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series award.

As the two stars stood from their table and exchanged a quick reassuring smile, Mescal appeared to offer Zendaya his hand to hold to help her up the stairs.

But after she didn’t take his hand, the Normal People star then appeared to try and hold her arm to be the ultimate gentleman and escort her to the stage:

But the 26-year-old moved her arm away, probably without realising what the 27-year-old Irish actor was trying to do.

The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment was spotted by viewers and after a clip of the awkward moment was shared on social media, it has become the ceremony’s biggest talking point.

And fans of the pair are now collectively cringing, some are defending Mescal by claiming any normal human would be nervous around the former Disney Channel star.

Mescal fumbled over a few words and people are convinced it's because he was in the presence of Zendaya.

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Twitter

"Not zendaya giving PAUL THE ARM and he didn’t take," one fan reacted on Twitter.

Another viewer ran to Twitter and wrote: "Not Zendaya swerving Paul Mescal's hand."

Someone else concluded: "Paul Mescal tried to escort Zendaya and she wasn’t into it."

"I relate to Paul Mescal cause I too would be nervous to be next to Zendaya," one fan gushed.

While another Twitter user shared the video of the pair presenting the award and wrote: "Zendaya best girl got Paul Mescal blushing nervous giggle and shit. I too would have the same reaction as Paul, fr."

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The pair presented Jessica Chastain with the award for her acclaimed performance in the series George & Tammy.

Earlier in the evening, Zendaya won the red carpet with a gorgeous pale pink Valentina Gown which she later swapped for an art deco Armani Privé dress. The second look worn by the fashion icon had a front cut-out with pale blue, pink and black.

Meanwhile, Mescal wore a Simone Rocha navy shirt and black suit with silver embellishments which he paired with black Paul Smith boots and a Cartier watch and jewellery.