Giuliana Rancic is owning up to her mistakes. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the E! correspondent and Fashion Police co-host, 40, issued a public apology on E! News to Zendaya.
“I’d really like to address something that’s weighing very heavy on my heart,” she began. “I want to apologize for a comment that I made on last night’s Fashion Police about Zendaya’s hair.”
During the Feb. 23 Oscars episode, Rancic joked about the former Disney star’s dreadlocks, saying, “I feel like she smells like pachouli oil,” and when the cameras cut away to a picture of the star’s look, an unnamed voice chimed in saying, “Or weed!”
“Something I said last night did cross the line,” Rancic continued, without actually quoting herself. “I didn’t intend to hurt anybody, but I’ve learned it’s not my intent that matters, it’s the result.”
The offensive comments caused Zendaya to post a lengthy message on Instagram, defending her hairstyle and slamming the show.
“There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful,” she wrote. “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.”
Also speaking out against the controversial joke was Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne, who ranted on Twitter about the comments after people assumed she was the one who added in the “weed” speculation.
“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!” she tweeted. “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!”
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
Rancic also tweeted an apology directly to Zendaya, 18, following Fashion Police, but admitted in her video message the ramifications of her statements are still on her mind.
“This really has been a learning experience for me, I’ve learned a lot today,” she said. “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.”
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