Zendaya Looks Back At Giuliana Rancic’s ‘Offensive’ Dreadlocks Comment At 2015 Oscars

Zendaya recently looked back on Giuliana Rancic’s controversial comments about her dreadlocks six years ago.

In her and "Malcolm & Marie" co-star John David Washington's new photoshoot and interview with W magazine, the publication mentioned Zendaya's love for transformation and how she enjoys wearing different wigs from her vast collection. The "Spider-Man" actress sported a blonde wig for the shoot.

W magazine also revisited the controversy sparked by Zendaya's look for the 2015 Oscars, where she wore a white Vivienne Westwood gown and styled her hair in dreadlocks. Rancic, an E! News anchor at the time, thoughtlessly commented that the actress' hair made her look "like she smells like patchouli oil" or "weed" during an episode of "Fashion Police."

"That’s how change happens," Zendaya told W magazine as she reflected on the whole incident. "And it made me think, How could I always have a lasting impact on what people saw and associated with people of color?"

At the time, the "Euphoria" star responded to the uproar by condemning the "disrespectful" comments.

"To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive," Zendaya wrote in a lengthy social media post in 2015.

"There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair," she added. "My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough."

Rancic apologized to Zendaya on social media, which she followed up with a lengthier on-air apology.

"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!!!" she tweeted.

Mattel later created a Barbie doll that replicated Zendaya's appearance on the night of the Oscars, sporting the same white gown and hairstyle.

Zendaya shared a side-by-side photo of her and the doll on Instagram and even changed her profile picture to a headshot of Mattel's doll.

"When I was little I couldn't find a Barbie that looked like me, my...how times have changed. Thank you @barbie for this honor and for allowing me to be apart of your diversification and expansion of the definition of beauty," she wrote in the caption.