Rancic Death Threats After ‘Fashion Police’ Faux Pas: Giuliana Blames Zendaya Dreadlocks ‘Joke’ On Editors
Giuliana Rancic never imagined that a career in the media industry would lead to death threats. But now the TV journalist is revealing that’s precisely what happened after her Fashion Police comment about Zendaya, reported People.
The controversy erupted after Giuliana participated in an Academy Awards special analyzing the Oscars red carpet fashion show. Scrutinizing Zendaya, who wore her hair in dreadlocks, Rancic uttered the words that social media can’t forget.
“I feel like she smells like patchouli oil,” she said, adding, “Or weed!”
The young actress immediately responded on social media with outrage. And although the 40-year-old TV personality apologized on-air, she’s now admitting how she really felt.
“I read her statement and I was shocked. I made [the joke] as a reference to the hippie culture. It was a bohemian-chic reference, not about race, nor would it ever be. It was horrifying to have my name in a headline with words I have never been associated with in my life.”
But that’s not all. Rancic now says that she didn’t write that joke, and she also blames editors for cutting out the segments showing the context.
“On set, I made peace signs and I said boho twice. It was edited. And my words were taken out of context. If I thought this joke could be interpreted another way, I never would have done it. I felt horrible.”
In addition, she defends herself by declaring that no one who watched the taping expressed any worries.
“There were about 50 sets of eyeballs on set that day,” declared Giuliana. “And not one person thought that it had the undertones that it ended up having once it aired because they heard it in context.”
But a source told Us Weekly that Kelly Osbourne, who was then a co-host of Fashion Police, did protest.
“Kelly said ‘Guys, we can’t say this. Zendaya is a friend of the show,'” said the source.
In addition to noting that Zendaya had participated on the show, Kelly posted her defense on social media.
“I WILL NOT BE DRAGED INTO THIS! [sic] The situation is being rectified like ADULTS by both parties. I hope you can leave it to them & do the same! 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!”
As the Inquisitr reported, Kathy Griffin exited Fashion Police after offering her own comments on the brouhaha.
“Don’t have anyone write you jokes or even suggest jokes for you,” summed up Kathy.
[Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NATAS]
