You know that feeling when you see something so chaotic yet so perfectly executed that it basically burns itself into your permanent memory? That is exactly what happened in May 2017. Tom Holland, who was then mostly just "that new kid playing Spider-Man," walked onto a stage and fundamentally changed the internet.
The tom holland umbrella performance on Lip Sync Battle isn’t just a TV clip. It is a cultural landmark. Honestly, if you haven’t seen it, where have you been? He starts off in a classic Gene Kelly suit, tapping to "Singin' in the Rain," and then—boom. A quick change behind some umbrellas, and he emerges in a black wig, fishnets, and a corset to perform Rihanna’s "Umbrella."
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It was absolute mayhem. The water was real. The flips were dangerous. And Zendaya, his now-fiancée but then-rival, was visibly losing her mind in the background.
The Secret Battle Against the Fishnets
Most people think this was a corporate-mandated PR stunt to promote Spider-Man: Homecoming. It wasn't. It was actually way more personal and, frankly, a lot more stressful than it looked on camera.
Tom has since admitted that he only had about two days to rehearse the entire thing. Imagine trying to learn a high-intensity dance routine involving water and a backflip in 48 hours. He was terrified. His father, Dominic Holland, actually tried to talk him out of it. His dad was worried that the performance might be "too much" or could negatively impact his career.
Tom did it anyway.
He recently joked with Gordon Ramsay on the Scrambled series that the fishnets he wore were framed and "at the Met" (though he was definitely kidding about the museum part). But the commitment was real. He wanted to win. He told the creative team he wanted to go even further—asking to stage dive into the crowd—but the choreographers, specifically Danielle Flora, were already panicking about him slipping in the water.
Flora later mentioned she was "terrified" she might be the person responsible for killing Spider-Man if he cracked his head open on that stage.
Why it Still Works in 2026
We live in a world where everything is "viral" for ten minutes and then forgotten. So why does this one clip have 200 million views?
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- The Shock Factor: He didn't just "do drag." He performed it with the athleticism of a West End pro. (Don’t forget he was Billy Elliot as a kid).
- The Chemistry: Watching Zendaya’s genuine reaction is half the fun. She had no idea he was going that hard. They had literally agreed to "take it easy" on each other. He lied.
- Zero Irony: He wasn't doing it to be "brave" or make a statement about toxic masculinity, as he told The Hollywood Reporter. He just thought it would be fun.
The performance is basically the gold standard for celebrity cameos. It’s the reason why, years later during Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl show, the entire internet was begging for Tom to come out in his wig. He didn't, obviously, but Zendaya did post a meme of her shocked face on Instagram that night, proving it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Breaking Down the "Umbrella" Choreography
If you watch closely, the technical skill is actually insane.
- The Intro: He starts with actual tap dancing. Most actors would fake it. Tom, thanks to his theater background, was hitting every beat.
- The Transition: The quick change happens in seconds. It’s a classic stage trick, but under those lights and with that much pressure, it’s easy to mess up.
- The Water Work: The rain machine wasn't just a light mist. It was a downpour. Dancing in fishnets on a wet stage is a recipe for a broken tailbone.
- The Final Flip: That backflip into the water is the moment he won. It was the "mic drop" before mic drops were even a thing.
What Most People Get Wrong
One big misconception is that Tom regrets it because it "haunts" him. That's a bit of an exaggeration. While he has said he gets more compliments for this than for his actual movies—which, yeah, must be a little annoying when you’ve done The Crowded Room or Cherry—he’s also said he’s proud of it.
He doesn't want to do it again, though. He’s "retired" the fishnets.
But honestly? He doesn't need to do it again. The 2017 performance is perfect as it is. It captured a moment in time where celebrities actually felt like they were having fun instead of just "building a brand."
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you're looking to revisit this or find more "behind-the-scenes" context, here is what you should do:
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- Watch the full rehearsal footage: There are clips on YouTube showing Tom practicing the flip without the water. You can see how much more nervous he was then.
- Check out Zendaya’s performance from the same episode: Everyone forgets she did a killer Bruno Mars "24K Magic" impression. She actually "lost" the battle, but she was incredible.
- Look for the 2025 "Scrambled" interview: Tom gives the most updated perspective on his feelings toward the dance and his dad’s initial hesitation.
The tom holland umbrella performance remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of Lip Sync Battle. It’s a masterclass in commitment, and honestly, we’re probably going to be talking about it for another ten years.