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Zendaya Responds to Giuliana Rancic's Apology for Dreadlocks Comments: "I'm Glad It Was a Learning Experience"
Read her full response to the Fashion Police host
Oh snap! K.C. Undercover star Zendaya put E!'s Giuliana Rancic on blast late Monday for comments the Fashion Police host made about her Oscars appearance.
On Sunday evening, the Disney actress walked the Oscars red carpet sporting dreadlocks. On Monday's episode of Fashion Police, Rancic said that Zendaya must have smelled of "patchouli" and "weed."
Zendaya took to Instagram to respond to Rancic's comments, without specifically naming the E! host.
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"There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful," she wrote. "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. To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or 'weed' is not only a stereotype, but outrageously offensive."
Zendaya then went on to name several respected African Americans who have "locs", including Selma director Ava DuVernay and author Terry McMillan, neither of whom "smell like marijuana."
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Rancic later tweeted an apology for offending Zendaya.
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!!!
Meanwhile, Rancic's fellow Fashion Police star Kelly Osbourne also tweeted about the incident, saying it has called her future on the E! show into question.
I DID NOT MAKE THE WEED COMENT. I DO NOT CONDONE RACISM SO AS A RSULT OF THIS IM SEREIOULSY QUESTIONONIG STAYING ON THE SHOW!
You can read Zendaya's full response below:
Then, on Tuesday, Rancic issued an on-camera apology that aired during E! News. Watch it below:
Finally, on Wednesday, Zendaya issued another statement via Twitter that read, in part, "Giuliana, I appreciate your apology and I'm glad it was a learning experience for you and for the network. I hope that others negatively affected by her words can also find it in their hearts to accept her apology as well."
In her full statement, which you can read below, Zendaya also discussed the influence that "hidden prejudice" can have on people's actions and quoted Dr. Martin Luther King:
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) February 25, 2015