Zendaya Has a Secret for Shutting Down Racist Comments

Update, 9/19: Six months after Giuliana Rancic made inappropriate/seemingly racist comments about Zendaya Coleman's *stunning* Oscars look (specifically, her dreadlocks), the Disney star wants you to know what she learned from the experience. 

"My parents always taught me that there is knowledge in your voice (opens in new tab). I could have clapped back and gone off," she tells the latest issue of Galore (opens in new tab). "Of course I wanted to, everyone wants to do that. I just kept thinking there were other young people dealing with the same kind of issue who were watching me to see how I would respond."

Coleman didn't disappoint. Her response (opens in new tab) to Rancic was remarkably eloquent for an 18-year-old.

"I think the way we react to things is a big indicator of our character and what type of person we are," she adds. "I just had too much respect for myself and didn't want to prove everybody right that's waiting for me to be ignorant and do something dumb, so I took my time until I thought of the best way I could address the comments."

🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌

Update 3/4: A source tells People (opens in new tab) that Giuliana Rancic's full segment was cut, in which she explains the hippie reference in further detail—negating allegations that it was related to race. 

The source states that Rancic's comments, in which she also mentions the Grateful Dead, were edited for time. 

According to the source, Rancic can be heard saying: "Zendaya is more high-fashion. The hair to me on her is making her a little more boho. Like I feel like she smells like patchouli oil. Or weed." 

Only the weed-usage joke was aired. 

"She just thought it was a joke about hippies," says the insider. 

Update 2/25: Zendaya has responded to Rancic's apology,  and it's as eloquent as her first message. Read it all below:

Update, 2/25: Kelly Osbourne has threatened to quit Fashion Police over the comments co-host Giuliana Rancic made regarding Zendaya's hair at the Oscars.

Rancic herself issued a statement on Tuesday, in which she says the incident "has taught [her] to be more aware of clichés and stereotypes [and] how much damage they can do."

"As you know, Fashion Police is a show that pokes fun at celebrities in good spirit," she says in the video. "But I do understand that something I said last night did cross the line. I just want everyone to know I didn't intend to hurt anybody, but I have learned it is not my intent that matters, it's the result. And the result is that people are offended including Zendaya, and that is not okay."

Watch the full video below.

Original post, 2/24: We get it: When you're in the public eye, it seems every fashion and beauty decision you make is up for commentary. But after a segment of Fashion Police on E!, it's become painfully clear that sometimes commentators completely miss the mark. 

In the segment, which looks at Oscars red carpet fashion (opens in new tab), Giuliana Rancic says how much she loves Zendaya, only to follow up with an offhand remark about her dreadlocks. "I think she has such a tiny frame, that this hair to me overwhelms her," she says. (Which is, in our eyes, a fair and fine comment to make.) But then things get dicey: "Like I feel like she smells like patchouli oil," Rancic states. "Or weed," someone offers. "Or weed," Rancic laughs.

Just. What. No.

To conflate dreadlocks and weed is a bit silly (hippie/Bob Marley comments always come with the territory), but the comment can also be seen as a jab at natural, black hair and the styles that we as a society define as acceptable. Do dreads really have to be associated with drug use? Does Zendaya have to change her style to be categorized as a "win" and "beautiful" in the eyes of fashion commentators? We sure as hell don't think so.

Zendaya doesn't either, writing a fantastic note on Twitter (opens in new tab): 

Rancic later apologized over Twitter, saying that her comments were not intended to be about race.

Whatever the intent, we think the idea was clear: Dreadlocks give the wrong impression. Dreadlocks are not seen as "acceptable" for a red carpet. But guess what? They are perfectly acceptable. They are beautiful. And if you happen to rock locs or natural strands, remember: Like Zendaya says, your hair is "good enough." 

You should also check out:

See Every Look from the 2015 Oscars Red Carpet (opens in new tab)

Our 10 Favorite Beauty Looks from the Oscars (opens in new tab)

The Oscars in GIFs