UNITED STATES—By now, most of you are well aware of the E! hit series “Fashion Police” which was heralded by comedienne and actress Joan Rivers. Rest in peace Joan; she was a lady whose wit and ability to take jabs at celebrities stung to new heights. Amidst Joan’s untimely passing, the show now consists of Kathy Griffin. Griffin is funny, but she is no Joan Rivers. Sorry, she’s not.
This past week the Academy Awards had eyes turning left and right with celebrities on the red carpet. So of course the panelists for “Fashion Police,” Kelly Osborne, Guiliana Rancic, Kathy Griffin and Brad Goreski took jabs at the best and worst dressed on the carpet. On Monday’s episode, Rancic made comments about Disney star Zendaya about her Oscar appearance that has media outlets in a fury.
The E! News host made a comment about the starlet’s dreadlocks comparing them to the smell of “patchouli oil or weed.” It got some laughs from host Kathy Griffin, but the rest of the panel was a bit thrown by the commentary, well at least Kelly was in my opinion from looking at the video from the episode. Since, Zendaya has taken to social media to voice her outrage over the commentary and has gotten a ton of celebrities to back her including Chloe Grace Moretz, Kerry Washington and “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg.
Many are outraged by the comments which some are calling racist. Hmm, that is difficult to say the least, but I don’t believe Rancic’s comments were racist, but stupid absolutely. I honestly think she got caught up in the spur of the moment and didn’t really think about what she was saying before she said it. It’s unfortunate because the backlash that she is now receiving is perhaps beyond anything she expected.
The entertainment journalist even went to Twitter posting, “Dear @Zendaya, I’m sorry I offended you and others. I was referring to a bohemian chic look. Had NOTHING to do with race and NEVER would!!!” Is the apology as sincere and direct as one would be, not really? Things are becoming quite chaotic, and I fear the future of the popular show “Fashion Police” may soon be over.
Kelly Osbourne took to her Twitter account stating, “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 went on to say, “I DID NOT MAKE THE WEED COMMENT. I DO NOT CONDONE RACISM SO AS A RSULT OF THIS IM SEREIOUSLY QUESTIONING STAYING ON THE SHOW!”
I would argue a lot of the backlash is not only the fact that the comment was ignorant in nature, but that Guiliana and Kathy were taking jabs at a kid. Zendaya is only 18 and to talk such harsh language at a minor without truly considering what you’re saying is the problem. Of course many are going to be in outrage saying this is just another example of the idea of freedom of speech being in jeopardy.
This has plenty to do with freedom of speech, but even more to deal with ignorant commentary. We live in a world where social media does indeed penetrate into our lives in ways that we can’t even imagine. Twenty years ago this was never the case, nowadays say one wrong thing and the entire world will now about it. It seems the more celebrities speak, the more trouble they seem to find themselves entangled in.
If you’re going to say something controversial be prepared to take the heat. While Rancic might be at the forefront of the drama right now, its surely entangling those that she work with, so things could become quite sticky to say the least. But it’s apparent the backlash that she received too the hostess to issue an on air apology that was bit more sincere in my opinion, but I’m not certain if this incident will be swept under the rug in such a quick fashion.
I guess this proves that if the public is outraged by something and they make it known, a celebrity tends to find a way to make it right, otherwise it can be a case of career suicide which we’ve seen time and time again.
