Already have an account?
Get back to the

The View Hosts Slam Giuliana Rancic for Zendaya Scandal: “You’re Not Joan Rivers”

The View
The hosts of The View spoke about Giuliana Rancic

Can't live up to an icon. The stars of The View took on Giuliana Rancic on Wednesday, Feb. 25, addressing the Fashion Police star's scandal with Zendaya Coleman, and comparing Rancic to the incomparable Fashion Police founder Joan Rivers.

"Maybe it's time for the show to turn into something else," Whoopi Goldberg began, addressing the current iteration of Fashion Police following the tragic death of Rivers this past September. "Joan was a one of a kind. There's nobody like her, there's nobody as funny, there's nobody who can do what she did."

While Rivers, who passed away at the age of 81, was notorious for her boundary-pushing humor and harsh criticisms, Rancic's evaluation of actress and singer Zendaya's dreadlocks at the Oscars this past weekend was not taken lightly. After the E! personality, 40, joked that her hair must smell like patchouli and weed, Zendaya, 18, wrote an impassioned response about the stereotype and prompted an on-air apology from Rancic.

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Feuds: The Biggest Ever!

"I have had dreads for 40 years, and never have I smelled like patchouli," Goldberg continued on The View. When her co-panelists added "or weed," Goldberg gave a slight smile and shrugged her shoulders. "But it is a stereotype! It's a stereotype that she put on… If I was in the military, I would have to cut my hair because they don't like dreads. They associate dreads with something else, which many people have done. This is what Giuliana did, and that's why she's getting a lot of poop." 

"She's not Joan Rivers," the celebrated comedian added. "Unless you know how to make jokes, don't do it… I've met real racists so I'm very hesitant to call people who put their foot in their mouth racist. She was just ignorant… a bonehead."

Nicolle Wallace jumped in to echo Goldberg's statement, making a comparison between Rancic and Rivers.

Related: PHOTOS: Oscars 2015 Red Carpet Fashion: What the Stars Wore

"Joan Rivers was irreverent… she was in her own category," Wallace said. "I think if you have to carry on a show in her absence, in her tragic absence, you have to understand that you are not Joan. You don't get to say this stuff and get away with it."

"When you are an established comedian, you have a reservoir, you have a reputation, you have a life of deeds, and you say what you say as a comedian," she continued. "I think when you're Giuliana Rancic… she's not Joan Rivers! She doesn't get to say this stuff and not pay a price… This is about the show, I think, being a little rudderless without its creator because Joan Rivers said things that made me blush home alone in my pajamas."

The scandal has inspired turmoil between the Fashion Police stars as veteran panelist Kelly Osbourne spoke out on Twitter, and sources told Us Weekly that she was threatening to quit the show over the matter. Rancic and Osbourne currently appear on the style show alongside new additions Kathy Griffin and Brad Goreski.

Related: PHOTOS: Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014

Stacy London, who was guest hosting on Wednesday's episode of The View, brought up further issues with the seemingly troubled Fashion Police.

"I even wonder where the fashion expertise comes from, frankly," the style authority said with a grimace. "[Rancic] is a television person, she's a great personality… You can be mean about somebody's clothes but once you start getting personal, that's something different… Giuliana is not Joan, sorry!"

Watch the panelists discuss Rancic and Rivers in the videos above. 

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!