Part of Zendaya's letter to Giuliana Rancic. (twitter.com/Zendaya)

TV’s Giuliana Rancic is in hot water after saying Zendaya ‘smells like weed’

Fashion pundit Giuliana Rancic is in hot water after saying Disney actress/pop singer Zendaya “smells like patchouli oil or weed.”

TV’s Giuliana Rancic is in hot water after saying Zendaya ‘smells like weed’
Actress Zendaya attends the 87th Academy Awards on Feb. 22 in Hollywood, California. (Christopher Polk, Getty Images)

Zendaya showed up on the Oscars red carpet on Sunday “in a figure-hugging ivory-toned Vivienne Westwood slip of a goddess gown,” according to Vogue, “replete with flowing dreadlocks: one part Lisa Bonet, one part Venus de Milo, and all very grown up (which is to say, all very un-Disney).”

The headline for that Vogue piece: “Zendaya Is This Academy Awards’ Breakout Style Star.”

It’s slightly more poetic than Rancic’s comments on Zendaya’s appearance: “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil or weed — yeah, maybe weed?”



Zendaya responded to the comments on Monday night with a passionate piece of writing on her Instagram that included this nugget: “To say that an 18-year-old woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or “weed” is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive.”



Zendaya’s fans — a Kardashian included — and activists stepped up the campaign on Twitter.






Racic responded, also on Monday night, saying the comment “had NOTHING to do with race.”

UPDATE: Rancic took to “E! News” on Tuesday to offer a further apology about her remarks.



But Rancic’s apology didn’t ring true with a number of fans: