E s acerbic fashion review show Fashion Police may have finally crossed a red line.
Host Giuliana Rancic employed not one but two racially tinged stereotypes to criticize Disney Channel star Zendaya Coleman s red carpet look a sleek Vivienne Westwood gown and dreadlocks.
I feel that she smells like patchouli oil . . . or weed Rancic said during Monday night s show. Yeah maybe weed.
Chuckles all around.
Oscars not diverse enough Vanity Fair after party had beautiful people of all colors
Zendaya whose father is black immediately zeroed in the not so subtle racial subtext of Rancic s comments.
In response the 18 year old singer and Disney actress ( Shake It Up K.C. Undercover ) issued a rather lengthy takedown of Rancic s comments noting that despite the stereotype of dreadlocks being associated with weed smokers and Rastafarians they are a symbol of strength and beauty.
There s a fine line between funny and disrespectful she wrote in the missive on Twitter.
Zendaya noted that Ava DuVernay who directed the Oscar nominated film Selma Harvard professor Vincent Brown author Terry McMillan and Grammy nominated soul singer Ledisi all have dreadlocks.
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 color that our hair is good enough.
pic.twitter.com/q0fOYrv3gc
Zendaya ( Zendaya) February 24 2015
For some Sean Penn s green card moment served as confirmation of OscarsSoWhite
Rancic later apologized saying that her comments were referring to her bohemian chic look and had nothing to do with race.
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
On The View Rosie Perez said Rancic s apology was weak. That s doubling down on an insult Perez said according to the Hollywood Reporter. Everyone who s bohemian chic looks like they smoke weed and smells like patchouli
Her co host Whoopi Goldberg addressed Rancic directly.
You know what I m thinking right now right Goldberg said. You need to call Zendaya Giuliana and apologize.
Flipping her own dreadlocks Goldberg added Be careful cause you know a lot of people with dreads.
UPDATE Giuliana Rancic apologizes on camera to Zendaya over dreadlocks diss
On Twitter there was no shortage of people coming to Zendaya s defense.
RT Zendaya Just posted a photo. https //t.co/WhzwjYP6Ik (You're beautiful Queen. We bless the ignorant and wish them well. Onward. xo)
Ava DuVernay ( AVAETC) February 24 2015
Zendaya people need to grow up realize it's 2015 and act like it. Beautifully written pic.twitter.com/kjtY0gV4pO
Chlo Grace Moretz ( ChloeGMoretz) February 24 2015
Maybe guilianarancic smells like cultural stereotyping and a touch of racism. Zendaya looked gorgeous. e_FashionPolice
Hannah Lynch ( HannahMMLynch) February 24 2015
Look I understand who Joan Rivers was what FashionPolice is but that joke was aimed at a stereotype of a culture of a people. Zendaya
David Johns ( Dreams_on_Paper) February 24 2015
Well done Beautiful. XO Zendaya pic.twitter.com/Lieyt5M1UH
kerry washington ( kerrywashington) February 24 2015
Even before Rancic s comments Vogue labeled Zendaya the Breakout Star of the Academy Awards
Oh what a difference a serious red carpet moment can make If you didn t know who Zendaya was before tuning in to the 87th Annual Academy Awards tonight well you will now The lissome and lovely Disney actress and pop singer caused a stir on the red carpet in a figure hugging ivory toned Vivienne Westwood slip of a goddess gown replete with flowing dreadlocks one part Lisa Bonet one part Venus de Milo and all very grown up (which is to say all very un Disney). We ll be keeping our eye on you Zendaya.
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Zendaya arrives at the Oscars on Feb. 22 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Invision via Associated Press) Zendaya arrives at the 57th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8. (Jordan Strauss/Invision via Associated Press)CORRECTION This post has been updated to correct the spelling of Giuliana Rancic s first name.
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