From starring on Shake it Up to shaking it up on the red carpet, Zendaya has always been one to take fashion risks. Whether it be groundbreaking styles or cutting edge hair, she is definitely not afraid to make a statement. Zendaya has walked the red carpet in everything from gold trench coats with a mass of perfect curls to leggy gowns and pixie cuts. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that she would premiere yet another daring ‘do at the Oscars last Sunday night.
Zendaya caught the attention of many when she appeared on the Oscars red carpet with waist-length faux dreadlocks. In Hollywood, it is a rarity to see celebrities with dreadlocks at high-profile events—so when Zendaya sported the look, it caused quite a stir.
In the eyes of Vogue.com, her fashion risk paid off and she was named their Breakout Style Star of the Academy Awards. They referred to her dreadlocks as being “one part Lisa Bonet, one part Venus de Milo, and all very grown up.” However, some fashion critics obviously did not agree.
During the E!’s Fashion Police post-Oscars fashion review, host Giuliana Rancic made a comment about Zendaya’s choice of hair that was far from the praises sung by the Vogue team, going as far as to say that Zendaya look like she smelled of “patchouli oil and weed.” Over the years, Fashion Police has been known to make offensive comments pertaining to celebs’ red carpet choices, but this comment by Rancic incited widespread anger and disbelief.
Social media users felt that the comments showed ignorance and distaste on Giuliana’s part and were racially motivated especially seeing as Rancic had previously praised Kylie Jenner as being “edgy” for donning the exact same look.
Following Giuliana’s comments, Zendaya posted an eloquent response that displayed maturity beyond her years:
Rancic has since publicly apologized to Zendaya through both Twitter and in a video that was released on Wednesday. She insists that the comments were never intended to be about race and that she has learned a lot over the past few days.
While Twitter users question how a television host can be oblivious to the fact that a comment concerning stereotypes of the hair of African-American women is offensive, Zendaya graciously accepted Rancic’s numerous apologies.
The 18-year-old posted to Instagram, saying, “Giuliana, I appreciate your apology and I’m glad it was a learning experience for you and for the network. I hope others negatively affected by her words can find it in their hearts to accept her apology as well.”
What do you think of Guiliana’s apology?