Zendaya slams Guiliana’s Oscar jab
‘Fashion Police’ presenter Giuliana Rancic apologises after comments about the singer’s dreadlocks on the red carpet
Giuliana Rancic apologised to Zendaya and others offended by Rancic’s Fashion Police jab at the actress-singer’s Oscar-night dreadlocks.
On E! News on Tuesday, Rancic said the reaction to her comments has increased her awareness of, in her words, “cliches and stereotypes”.
They are damaging, she said, adding that she and others have the responsibility to avoid perpetuating them.
During Monday’s Fashion Police on the E! channel, Rancic said Zendaya’s hair suggested the smell of patchouli oil or marijuana.
Zendaya later posted a message on Instagram, which has since been retweeted by many celebrities including singer Lorde, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ava DuVernay, Kerry Washington and Khloe Kardashian. “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,” she wrote. “To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive.
“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 added. “My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of colour that our hair is good enough.”
Zendaya’s father is African American.
Meanwhile Fashion Police co-host Kelly Oscbourne was dragged into the controversy, when commentators online suggested she was the one who used the word ‘weed’ during the broadcast. During Rancic’s commentary, the show cut to a picture of the singer on the red carpet. Then, a voice off camera could be heard saying that the Disney star smelled like ‘weed’, which Rancic quickly repeated.
Many have claimed that the first comment was made by Osbourne.
But on Tuesday the daughter of rock legend
“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.”
Ozzy Osbourne took to Twitter to defend herself.
“I will not be dragged into this!” she posted. “The situation is being rectified like adults by both parties. I hope you can leave it to them & do the same!
‘I AM NOT MY HAIR’
“You guys do realise that @Zendaya is my friend right?” she added.
Then, an hour later, she continued: “I did not make the weed comment. I do not condone racism. So as a result of this I’m seriously questioning staying on the show.”
India Arie, whose song, I Am Not My Hair , Zendaya quoted in her post, also jumped into the fray with an empowered post on her blog.
“I’m not calling Giuliana Rancic a racist, but of course it has to do with race,” she posted. “But let’s remember how difficult it is for a person of Gulianna Ranic’s social context to really understand how we see race in this issue. How race is a pervasive issue in the entertainment industries as a whole. We need more compassion in this world. Period.
“So I’m not mad at Giuliana Rancic, I’m sad at her. I’m sad that things like this keep happening. I’m sad that there’s an actual form of entertainment where people are excused to be snarky and unkind, that’s the REAL issue.” —