Fashion Police aired their Oscars episode on Monday night, where Giuliana Rancic made a comment on Zendaya’s dreadlocks that the 18-year-old singer and actress is striking back at.
After Rancic commented on her hair looking like it smells like “patchouli oil or weed,” Zendaya responded on social media.
In a lengthy post, she never mentions Rancic’s name but blasts her as “ignorant” for perpetuating the “large stereotype” about dreadlocks and African American hair in general.
“There’s a fine line between funny and disrespectful,” she wrote. “There is already a 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.”
She went on to write, “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.”
Zendaya also stated other public figures, such as Oscar-nominated Selma director Ava DuVernay and Harvard professor Vincent Brown, who wear dreadlocks too.
Rancic then took to Twitter to apologize, telling her the comment wasn’t meant to be disrespectful or racist.
“Dear @Zendaya, I'm sorry I offended you and others. I was referring to a bohemian chic look. Had NOTHING to do with race and NEVER would!!!” she wrote.
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) February 24, 2015
Dear @Zendaya, I'm sorry I offended you and others. I was referring to a bohemian chic look. Had NOTHING to do with race and NEVER would!!!
— Giuliana Rancic (@GiulianaRancic) February 24, 2015
image via Twitter from Zendaya
image via Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com
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