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Zendaya Calls Out E!’s Giuliana Rancic For Remarks About Her Red Carpet Dreadlocks; ‘Fashion Police’ Host Apologizes

Zendaya decided to rock dreadlocks on the Oscars red carpet Sunday night, which Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic targeted on the show Monday.

Zendaya Vs Giuliana Rancic

When the image of Zendaya in her ivory Grecian-inspired Vivienne Westwood gown appeared on the screen, Rancic quipped, “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed.” Though Rancic may have earned herself some cheap laughs, she also earned the derision of Zendaya, who took to Instagram to point out why Rancic’s remarks were so troubling for people of color.

“There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful. Someone said something about my hair at the Oscars that left me in awe. Not because I was relishing in rave outfit reviews, but because I was hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect,” Zendaya wrote. “To say that an 18 year old young woman with locs [dreadlocks] must smell of patchouli oil or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive. I don’t usually feel the need to respond to negative things, but certain remarks cannot go unchecked.”

Zendaya added, “Ill have you know my father, brother, best childhood friend and little cousins all have had locs. Do you want to know that Ava DuVerday, Ledisi, Terry McMillan, Vincent Brown, Heather Andrea Williams as well as many other men, women, and children of all races have in common? Locs. None of which smell of marijuana. There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair.

“My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough,” the young actress continued. “To me locs are a symbol of strength and beauty, almost like a lion’s mane. I suggest some people should listen to India Arie’s “I Am Not My Hair” and contemplate a little before opening your mouth so quickly to judge.”

Rancic initially offered a short apology on Twitter that did little to quell the backlash towards her, claiming she was merely referring to a “bohemian chic look.”

On Tuesday, at the end of E! News, Rancic offered a more nuanced and detailed apology, speaking directly into the camera. “I’d really like to address something that is weighing very heavy on my heart. I want to apologize for a comment that I made on last night’s Fashion Police about Zendaya’s hair,” she said. “Now, as you know, Fashion Police is a show that pokes fun at celebrities in good spirit, but I do understand that something I said last night did cross the line. I just want everyone to know, I didn’t intend to hurt anybody, but I’ve learned it is not my intent that matters — it’s the result, and the result is that people are offended, including Zendaya, and that is not ok.”

“Therefore, I want to say to Zendaya, and anyone else out there that I have hurt, that I am so, so sincerely sorry,” she continued. “This really has been a learning experience for me — I’ve learned a lot today — and this incident has taught me to be a lot more aware of cliches and stereotypes, how much damage they can do. And that I am responsible, as we all are, to not perpetuate them further. Thank you for listening.”

Chelsea Regan

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Chelsea Regan

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