Yesterday, I talked about how Giuliana Rancic mocked Zendaya’s Oscar dreadlocks. She said, “I feel like she … she smells like patchouli oils, or weed. Maybe weed.” This remark caused a huge backlash, and I wondered why no one called out the rest of the Fashion Police. The Vine video clip made it seem like everyone laughed heartily at Giuliana’s joke. So I tracked down the full episode. The relevant portion starts around 24:30.
After watching everyone’s full reactions, I see how Brad Goreski and Kathy Griffin enjoyed Giuliana’s ill-advised joke. The odd one out was Kelly Osbourne. She looked very annoyed and not amused at all. In the aftermath, Zendaya called Giuliana out in an eloquent letter for stereotyping locks. Guiliana tossed out an apology tweet, saying her remark had “NOTHING to do with race.” Kelly popped off on Twitter and threatened to quit the show.
I WILL NOT BE DRAGED INTO THIS! The situation is being rectified like ADULTS by both parties. I hope you can leave it to them & do the same!
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) February 24, 2015
Im giving everyone involved 24 hours to make it right or the world will hear how I really feel. contactually Im not allowed to speak!
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) February 24, 2015
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!
— Kelly Osbourne (@KellyOsbourne) February 24, 2015
Kelly and Zendaya are friends. They both modelled for Lourdes Leon’s Material Girl clothing line. Kelly gave fair criticism of Zendaya’s dress, but when Giuliana stepped in with the dreadlocks stuff, you could tell Kelly wasn’t happy. A source told Us Weekly, “he doesn’t condone Giuliana’s dumb comment.” I think Kelly was correct (even if she typed like Kanye), but threatening to quit seems extreme. She didn’t need to make herself look juvenile. Giuliana already cornered the market on that one.
Last night, Giuliana stepped up with a more substantial, televised apology:
“I’d really like to address something that is weighing very heavy on my heart. I want to apologize for a comment that I made on last night’s Fashion Police about Zendaya’s hair. Now, as you know, Fashion Police is a show that pokes fun at celebrities in good spirit, 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’ve 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 OK. Therefore, I want to say to Zendaya, and anyone else out there that I have hurt, that I am so, so sincerely sorry. This really has been a learning experience for me — I’ve learned a lot today — and this incident has taught me to be a lot more aware of cliches and stereotypes, how much damage they can do. And that I am responsible, as we all are, to not perpetuate them further. Thank you for listening.”
[From E! Entertainment on YouTube]
Giuliana seems somber and sincere and said all the right things. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and hope she truly learned something from this experience. Here’s the video of Giuliana’s extended apology.
Photos courtesy of WENN
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