Zendaya Rips E! Red Carpet Host Giuliana Rancic for ‘Ignorant’ Dreadlocks Comment

The actress is deeply upset after Rancic suggested that her hair looked like it “smelled of patchouli oil and weed”

Zendaya and Giuliana Rancic are shown at the 2015 Academy Awards
Getty Images

Zendaya Coleman looked stunning on the red carpet at the Oscars Sunday in an off-the-shoulder silk gown, but not everyone liked her style.

E! red carpet host Giuliana Rancic criticized the 18-year-old actress for having her long hair in dreadlocks, saying on “Fashion Police” Monday that: “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed.”

While her co-hosts found the comment funny, Zendaya was far from amused and wrote a long Instagram post (see below) saying she was “hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect.”

“To say that an 18 year old young woman with locs must smell like patchouli oil and weed is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive,” she wrote, adding that “certain remarks cannot go unchecked.”

Zendaya went on to point out that “Selma” director Ava DuVernay, notable African-American authors, professors and “men, women and children of all races” have locs, “none of which smell of marijuana.”

The actress said she wore her hair in dreadlocks to the Oscars to “remind people of color that our hair is good enough.”

Rancic later apologized for offending the young star, writing on Twitter Monday night. “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.

“The Equalizer” actress Chloe Moretz was one of the first stars to stand up for Zendaya, tweeting: “People need to grow up, realize it’s 2015, and act like it. Beautifully written.”  Read Zendaya’s full Instagram post below, along with outraged Twitter reactions to Rancic’s comment. Zendaya Instagram

Comments