Giuliana Rancic has nothing but positive things to say about Zendaya, nine years after her ‘outrageously offensive’ comments about the star’s hairstyle.
‘She’s incredible,’ the 49-year-old host told People on Thursday. ‘I think it’s always fun to watch people from the beginning and then you see how they grow both in their work and also in every aspect of their career.’
In 2015, while hosting E! Network’s Fashion Police, Giuliana remarked on Zendaya’s debut Oscar appearance, featuring dreadlocks, stating that the then 18-year-old star ‘looks like she smells like patchouli oil or weed.’
Fast forward to the present, Giuliana, having departed the network in 2021, finds herself brimming with excitement over the movie star’s immense success.
‘She’s so talented, she has an amazing fanbase,’ the TV personality explained. ‘I think it’s great.’
Giuliana Rancic has nothing but positive things to say about Zendaya , nine years after her ‘outrageously offensive’ comments about the star’s hairstyle; Rancic in 2021
In 2015, while hosting E! Network’s Fashion Police, Giuliana remarked on Zendaya’s debut Oscar appearance, featuring dreadlocks, stating that the then 18-year-old star ‘looks like she smells like patchouli oil or weed’
She also acknowledged the dramatic change in the demand for style opinions and commentary over the years.
‘I think that we’re at a place now where we just want to see the fashion,’ Giuliana said. ‘I remember when that started changing and fashion wasn’t going to be the focus on the red carpet as much.’
In 2021, Zendaya reflected on the controversial incident, saying the aftermath was ‘how change happens.’
Amid the uproar, Mattel had created a Zendaya-inspired Barbie doll, which wore a replica of her ivory dress sported at the Oscars – as well as the same hairstyle.
‘And it made me think, How could I always have a lasting impact on what people saw and associated with people of color?’ she told W magazine.
Back in 2015, Zendaya addressed Rancic’s controversial comments, saying in a statement: ‘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.’
She added: ‘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.
‘She’s incredible,’ the 49-year-old host said of Zendaya to People on Thursday; seen in 2022
Back in 2015, Zendaya addressed Rancic’s controversial comments, saying in a statement: ‘There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful
‘I think it’s always fun to watch people from the beginning and then you see how they grow both in their work and also in every aspect of their career’ Rancic added; Zendaya in April
Giuliana would make a statement on air about her comments, saying: ‘I’d really like to address something that’s weighing really heavy on my heart. I want to apologise for a comment that I made on last night’s Fashion Police about Zendaya’s hair’
‘I don’t usually feel the need to respond to negative things but certain remarks cannot go unchecked.’
Rancic later apologized, tweeting: ‘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!!!’
While Zendaya said she appreciated Rancic’s apology for saying her dreadlocks must have smelt of ‘weed’ and ‘patchouli oil’, she criticised the nature of Fashion Police.
‘Body shaming and other hurtful tactics will never get the job done,’ Zendaya said in a statement, adding that she was ‘glad’ it was a learning experience for Rancic and the E! Network.
Zendaya added in her statement: ‘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.’
She continued: ‘From a quote we all know by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out have; only love can do that.’ Let’s be that light and spread that love.’
Zendaya also revealed that she had initially planned to respond to Rancic’s comments in an angry manner, before thinking better of it.
‘Instead, I sat for two hours on my phone, doing my research and formulating an educated response,’ she said.
In the immediate aftermath of Rancic’s comments, Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne sensationally quit the E! show.
Giuliana would make a statement on air about her comments, saying: ‘I’d really like to address something that’s weighing really heavy on my heart. I want to apologise for a comment that I made on last night’s Fashion Police about Zendaya’s hair.’
In the immediate aftermath of Rancic’s comments, Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne (pictured left) sensationally quit the E! show
Zendaya shared a glimpse of her Barbie doll’s dreadlocks via Instagram, as she discussed what the moment meant for her
‘As you know, Fashion Police is a show that pokes fun at celebrities in good spirit, but I do realise that something I said last night did cross the line.’
‘I just want everyone to know that I didn’t intend to hurt anybody, but I learned it’s not my intent that matters,’ Rancic continued. ‘It’s the result. And the result is people are offended, including Zendaya. And that is not okay.’
‘Therefore, I want to say to Zendaya, and anyone else out there that I hurt, that I’m so sincerely sorry,’ she concluded. ‘This really has been a learning experience for me.
‘I learned a lot today and this incident has taught me to be a lot more aware of cliches and stereotypes, and how much damage they can do. And that I am responsible, as we all are, to not perpetuate them further. Thank you for listening.’
