You remember the 2015 Oscars for a lot of reasons. Maybe it was the movies, or maybe it was the fashion. But honestly, most people remember it for one specific red carpet look and the absolute firestorm that followed. It’s the moment Zendaya stepped out in that stunning ivory Vivienne Westwood gown, rocking long, beautiful locs. She looked like a goddess. But then came the Fashion Police episode that changed everything.
Giuliana Rancic, a staple of red carpet coverage for years, made a comment that didn't just land poorly—it exploded. She joked that Zendaya probably smelled like "patchouli oil" or "weed."
The backlash was instant. People weren't just annoyed; they were furious. It wasn't just a "bad joke." It felt like a direct hit on Black culture and identity. Zendaya, who was only 18 at the time, didn't just sit back. She handled it with more grace than most adults could ever muster, and the ripples from that moment are still felt in Hollywood today.
The Comment That Nearly Broke E!
Let’s get into the weeds of what actually happened on that Fashion Police set. It’s easy to think of it as just a quick soundbite, but the context matters. Giuliana Rancic was part of a panel that included Kelly Osbourne and Kathy Griffin. When Zendaya’s photo came up, Giuliana dropped the "patchouli/weed" line.
Kinda shocking, right?
Zendaya didn't wait for a PR team to craft a response. She went straight to Instagram. She called the remarks "outrageously offensive" and pointed out that there is already enough criticism of African American hair without "ignorant people" adding to it. She name-dropped successful, brilliant Black men and women with locs—like Ava DuVernay and Terry McMillan—noting that none of them smell like marijuana.
Why the "Bohemian Chic" Excuse Didn't Work
Giuliana tried to walk it back almost immediately. She tweeted that she was referring to a "bohemian chic" look and that it had "NOTHING to do with race."
Nobody bought it.
The problem is that linking locs to drug use is a tired, racist trope. It doesn't matter if you "intended" it to be about a hippie vibe. The impact was what mattered. Zendaya herself pointed this out. She basically said that even if it was a joke, it was a joke rooted in a lack of understanding and respect.
- Zendaya's Response: A masterclass in setting boundaries.
- The Public Reaction: Celebrities like Kerry Washington and Solange Knowles jumped in to support her.
- The Fallout: Kelly Osbourne, who was a friend of Zendaya’s, was so upset she threatened to quit the show (and eventually did).
The Kelly Osbourne Factor
This is where things got messy behind the scenes. Kelly Osbourne was caught in the crossfire because she was sitting right there when the comment was made. People on Twitter started accusing her of being part of the "joke."
She was livid.
Kelly tweeted that she did not condone racism and was "seriously questioning" staying on the show. She even gave the producers 24 hours to "make it right." It wasn't just a professional rift; it was personal. Kelly and Zendaya were actually friends. Seeing her co-host insult her friend on national TV was the breaking point. Within days, Kelly was gone from Fashion Police. Then Kathy Griffin left, too. The show never really recovered.
Was Giuliana Set Up?
There’s a side of this story that often gets buried. Reports later surfaced from The Wrap suggesting that Giuliana might have been reading a script. There was even talk that a joke about the Grateful Dead—which might have made the "hippie/patchouli" context clearer—was edited out.
Does that excuse it? Not really. But it adds a layer of complexity. If the show's producers and writers thought that joke was okay to air, it points to a much bigger problem at the network level. Giuliana ended up being the face of the controversy, but the "fashion critique" culture of the time was built on being mean and reductive.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild to look back at how we used to talk about celebrities. We used to tune in just to hear people get roasted. This incident was a massive wake-up call that the "roast" culture had gone too far.
Turning a Negative Into a Massive Win
If you want to see how Zendaya wins at life, look at what happened a few months later. Mattel reached out. They didn't just want to make a Zendaya Barbie; they wanted to recreate her exact Oscars look—locs and all.
It was a full-circle moment.
The doll was a huge deal because it represented a shift in how "mainstream" beauty was defined. For a lot of little girls, seeing a Barbie with locs was a first. Zendaya said at the time that when she was little, she couldn't find a Barbie that looked like her. She used her platform to make sure the next generation didn't have that problem.
Long-Term Impact on the Fashion Industry
The Zendaya and Giuliana Rancic incident actually changed the way red carpet reporting works. If you watch E! or any major network now, the commentary is much more focused on the craft, the designer, and the artistic expression. You don't see the same kind of lazy, stereotypical jokes that were common in the early 2010s.
It also solidified Zendaya as a force to be reckoned with. She wasn't just a Disney kid anymore. She was a woman who knew her worth and wasn't afraid to speak up. That moment was basically her transition into the Hollywood powerhouse she is today.
- She controlled the narrative. Instead of letting the "scandal" define her, she defined the conversation.
- She educated rather than just attacked. Her letter wasn't just a vent; it was a lesson on the history and significance of Black hair.
- She stayed consistent. She didn't accept the apology and then go quiet. She continued to advocate for diversity in fashion and film.
Where Are They Now?
Giuliana eventually left E! News in 2021 to focus on her family and her other businesses, like her skincare line and restaurants. She’s popped back up for occasional specials, but the Fashion Police era is long gone.
Zendaya? Well, you've seen the news. She’s won multiple Emmys, starred in some of the biggest movies on the planet, and is a literal fashion icon. She’s the face of brands like Louis Vuitton and Lancôme.
The irony isn't lost on anyone. The girl who was told she looked like she "smelled of weed" because of her hair is now the person the entire fashion world bows down to.
What You Can Learn from the Zendaya Approach
If you’re ever in a situation where someone misrepresents you or leans into a stereotype, take a page out of Zendaya’s book. You don't have to be loud to be heard. You just have to be clear and firm.
Basically, don't let people define your aesthetic based on their own narrow views. Use those moments to educate and grow. It’s not about winning an argument; it’s about changing the culture.
If you want to dive deeper into how fashion and identity intersect, you should check out the history of the CROWN Act. It’s legislation designed to prevent hair discrimination in schools and workplaces—the very thing Zendaya was fighting against on that red carpet. It’s a real-world example of how a single "celebrity" moment can actually lead to legal and social change.
