The speculation resurfaced last summer when the 37-year-old actor was promoting his new film, A Family Affair.
In this Netflix film, Efron portrays Chris Cole, an egotistical movie star who falls for his assistant Zara’s (played by Joey King) mother, Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman), after meeting her at the home she shares with her daughter.
Some Netflix viewers noted that Efron looked different in the romantic comedy, claiming they were ‘distracted’ by his altered appearance.
However, dedicated fans of the California native are aware that his pronounced jawline is not a new trait.
Back in 2013, Efron endured a severe accident at home, which resulted in a fractured jaw.
Reports indicate that he was running through his house wearing socks when he slipped and struck his face on a granite fountain.
Following the fall, Efron’s jawbone was said to be partially detached, requiring it to be wired shut.
Despite widespread awareness of his accident, the actor frequently encounters questions about supposed plastic surgery.
Prior to the release of his AppleTV+ film, The Greatest Beer Run Ever, in 2022, Efron addressed these rumors in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“I don’t really read the internet,” Efron commented. “It was funny. It sucked. I almost died,” he reflected on his 2013 incident.
Regarding why Efron’s jaw appears broader than before, he previously clarified that certain facial muscles had to work overtime to compensate for his significant injury.
As of 2022, he was still participating in physical therapy to address this issue.
During a hiatus from therapy while filming the second season of Down to Earth with Zac Efron in Australia, he told Men’s Health: “The masseters just grew. They just got really, really big.”
The masseter muscles are located on both sides of the face and are responsible for chewing.