Here’s Why Giuliana Comments on Zendaya’s Dreads was Prejudice and Not Fashion Criticism

As someone who recently took out her faux locs not to long ago for fear of prejudice during job interviews, this story struck a strong cord with me. Even though I live in the Caribbean, where the style originated, the stigma of dreadlocks is still prevalent.

(My Faux Locs)

I loved my faux locs and all my friends begged me to keep them in forever! Yet I sub-came to the want for a straight and more sleek look for New Year Eve since it was a formal event. That statement is where the real problem lies!

Zendaya looked absolutely stunning in a champagne Vivene Westwood dress and Chopard jewelry. However, during E! Fashion Police Oscar Awards segment, she was praised by Kelly Osborne, but received some choice words from Giuliana. (See Video Below)

I do have a problem with Giuliana’s comments, even though the Fashion Police is known for its crude and sometimes distateful jokes about celebrities. These comments had nothing to do about Zendaya’s hair choice but everything to do with the color of her skin. When Kylie Jenner wore faux dreads she was deemed edgy, trendy and a hipster. But when Zendaya wears them in a COUTURE DRESS and she's a pothead. Furthering the stereotype that black natural hairstyles cannot be elegant or what being black with dreads means. It starts to feel like black culture can only be trendy, appropriate and non-threatening when imitated and highjacked by the masses.

Let me say that I dont believe that Giuliana is racist. She saw Zendaya as a stereotype. Black Girl with Dreadlocks = Rasta and Rasta= Weed. Even people of the African American and Afro-Caribbean community fall into abusers of this same stereotype. How can we expect more from someone outside of our culture when we cant expect it from ourselves?

These comments are seen as even more distasteful because Giuliana said it to a huge audience in a very racial sensitive time. Unfortunately this stereotype is far from disappearing, but for now  I only think that its fair that if Zendaya smells like patchouli oil so should Kylie Jenner.