Giuliana Rancic Didn’t Write Zendaya ‘Dreadlocks’ Joke, Says Billy Bush (Video)

The “Fashion Police” anchor came under fire for the perceived racist comment

Giuliana Rancic did not write her now-infamous “dreadlocks” joke, according to Billy Bush.

The “Access Hollywood Live” host says he “made some phone calls” recently and learned that Rancic’s red carpet joke on “Fashion Police” about singer-actress Zendaya was crafted by a writer.

“That joke was a written joke, which means, a lot of people involved and nobody saw racism in this at all,” Bush said. “I don’t think they would have put it on the air several hours later if there was.”

However, according to the Writers Guild of America, the organization has been on strike against “Fashion Police” since April 2013 in a dispute over new contracts. Therefore, if the Zendaya quip was written, it did not come from a WGA member.

Rancic came under fire after Monday’s “Fashion Police” post-Oscar show when she commented that actress Zendaya Coleman’s dreadlocks make her look like “she smells like patchouli oil and weed.”

Zendaya took to Instagram shortly thereafter, remarking, “To say that an 18 year old young woman with locs must smell like patchouli oil and weed is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive.”

Rancic subsequently apologized, with Zendaya accepting her mea culpa on Wednesday.

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