by Chinwe Okafor

Zendaya attended last weekend’s Oscars in an ivory silk Vivienne Westwood gown with a new and different mane- dreadlocks. IF you recollect, she was spotted wearing a pixie cut at the Grammys two weeks earlier.

If you thought she looked amazing in the locks, you are part of the majority. Apparently, a minority won’t agree with you. One of such is Giuliana Rancic.

The E!’s Fashion Police co-host was given a rather stereotypical-apparently-bordering-on-racist critique to read out during the show’s Oscars special. Either that or she came up with it on her own. Whichever one it is, isn’t good.

Rancic said, “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil,” Giuliana said, “or weed. Maybe weed.” The comment was perceived “to be derogatory reference to “hippie” and/or Rastafarian culture”.

Her co-hosts laughed, but, understandably, Zendaya did not find it funny. In a lengthy and eloquent response shared via her Instagram page last night, she wrote:

A storm followed after on social media and noticing it, Giuliana was quick to tweet an apology. “I’m sorry I offended you and others,” she wrote, arguing that her critique was “NOTHING to do with race.” Instead she was referring only to a “Bohemian chic” hairdo, apparently — though given the nature of the line and its delivery, it seemed pretty clear she nor any of her fellow Fashion Police found Zendaya’s locs “chic.”

Kelly Osbourne, on the other hand took the backlash a little too seriously, even more than the bereaved.

Today, the co-host responded to the controversy in a series of tweets, in a bid to let her fans know that she had nothing to do with the comment and telling people that Zendaya is a friend of hers.

Shortly after that, Giuliana made a public apology via E! Live studio. Watch below-