Earlier in the week,Giuliana Rancic caused a stir on Fashion Police after she said that Zendaya’s (Shake it Up, Zapped, K.C. Undercover) dreads made her look like she “smelled of patchouli oil or weed.” This played into the stereotype that most African American’s use drugs. Now Zendaya has responded to the insult on Instagram.
Check out Giuliana Rancic’s controversial comments here.
Zendaya posted a response to the comments on Instagram, writing:
“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. 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.”
Zendaya went on to add that had to respond to this criticism, stating:
“I don’t usually feel the need to respond to negative things but certain remarks cannot go unchecked. I’ll have you know my father, brother, best childhood friend and little cousins all have locs. Do you want to know what Ava DuVernay (director of the Oscar nominated film Selma), Ledisi (9 time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and actress), Terry McMillan (author), Vincent Brown (Professor African and African American studies at Harvard University, and an MA and PhD from Yale University) as well as many other men [women] and children of all races have in common? Locs. None of which smell like [marijuana].”
She went on to discuss how African American’s are harassed because of their hair:
“There is already 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. 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. To me locs are a symbol of strength and beauty, almost like a lion’s mane. I suggest some people listen to India Arie’s ‘I Am Not My Hair’ and contemplate a little before opening your mouth so quickly to judge.”
What do you think of Zendaya’s response? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Zendaya can currently be seen on the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover.
