BBC America

Zac Efron is facing charges of “cultural appropriation” after the Hollywood star posted a moody image of himself in dreadlocks on Instagram.

“Just for fun,” he said, offering no reason for the new look. The dreadlocks do not appear in any earlier recent photos of the star.

Just for fun ????

A post shared by Zac Efron (@zacefron) on Jul 5, 2018 at 10:24am PDT

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In less than 24 hours, however, Efron’s comments section was inundated.

“This is literal cultural appropriation and nothing about my culture is ‘just for fun,'” said one aggrieved poster referencing Efron’s caption.

“You have been afforded so much privilege and world experiences that should also inform you that dreadlocks on white people is cultural appropriation,” said another.

“You really thought this ok?” wrote a third. “You really thought this was going to be cool?”

Responses like that led to a storm of pushback from Efron defenders who came to his aide and, ultimately, drowned out those accusing Efron of cultural appropriation by a significant margin.

“This is WHY Trump is president” said one. “Playing the race card over and over about every little thing possible. The rest of the world is bored by this- leave Zac alone he looks good with it.”

“The comments on here are ridiculous,” said a second. “Do people scream cultural appropriation comments when they see a picture of Niki [sic] Minaj wearing a blond wig? No.. no one should care about something as insignificant as someone else’s hair.”

“Really everyone,” said another. “There are better things to be upset about then what someone does with their hair! #getoverit“

“Cultural appropriation” has animated Internet activists many times in the recent past – like, when the girl wore a Chinese inspired prom dress, and that time Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy was pushed into apologizing for this image of him wearing a Native American headdress.

White men wearing dreadlocks has a long history of inciting cries of cultural appropriation. In 2016, video of a student at San Francisco State University being harassed for wearing the hairdo went viral. CNN published this helpful think-piece cautioning whites about what they should consider before choosing the look in the future.

Ok Twitter serious question was it ever that serious that now no one can wear dreadlocks unless you black?https://t.co/L5Cm4hI6LD

— Antonio Slime (@antonioslime) March 29, 2016

The Evolution of Zac Efron: From 'High School Musical' to 'Greatest Showman' Stud (Photos)

Getty Images
Zachary David Alexander Efron was born on October 18, 1987 in San Luis Obispo, California, to humble beginnings: His father and mother both worked at the same power plant.
Efron caught the acting bug early, appearing in plays and taking singing lessons at age 11. Here he's sporting some sick frosted tips.
Here's a photo of a young Zac Efron channeling his inner Justin Guarini.
Efron's baby blues, boyish looks and acting-singing chops caught the attention of Hollywood casting agents.
Getty Images
In his early teens, Efron started landing major guest TV roles on shows such as "ER" and "Firefly" then series regular role on The WB's "Summerland."
YouTube
Efron got his big break with the role of Troy Bolton, the popular basketball team captain on Disney Channel's "High School Musical." The role cemented his status as a bona fide teen idol and led to two hit sequels on the Disney Channel.
YouTube
Here's Zac with his "High School Musical" castmates during their Disney heyday. Whatever happened to Corbin Bleu, anyway?
Getty Images
"HSM" paved the way for more song-and-dance roles, including 2007's remake of "Hairspray." But fearing the dreaded typecasting, Efron backed out of the lead role in a "Footloose" remake.
New Line Cinema
Efron's Rolling Stone cover sparked a frenzy in 2007, and signaled his arrival as a chiseled leading man.
Rolling Stone
Determined to shed his squeaky clean image in three "HSM" TV movies, Efron began taking more serious younger leading-man roles, including 2010's mystical romantic drama "Charlie St. Cloud."
In 2012's Nicholas Sparks adaptation "The Lucky One," he played a former soldier suffering from PTSD who woos a pre-"Orange Is the New Black" Taylor Schilling.
Getty Images
In Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy," Efron had a memorable scene in which his character is stung by a jellyfish and Nicole Kidman pees on his face to relieve the sting.
In January 2014, Efron opened up about his battle with substance abuse in an interview with Savanna Guthrie of "Today" following a stint in rehab. "I'm in the best place I've ever been in. I've never been this happy before."
NBC
Efron posted this picture of himself at Macchu Picchu in September 2013.
Instagram
A sketchy incident on March 27, 2014 raised eyebrows over Efron's sobriety. Efron got punched in the face during an altercation with a homeless man in downtown L.A.'s Skid Row.
Getty Images
In Janary 2014, Efron starred in "bromantic" comedy "That Awkward Moment," a departure from his usual dramatic fare.
Focus Features
At the MTV Movie Awards in April 2014, singer Rita Ora ambushed Efron (while he accepted the award for "Best Shirtless Performance," naturally) and ripped off Efron's shirt.
Getty Images
In the 2014 hit raunchy comedy "Neighbors," Efron played the leader of a fraternity that goes to war with a married couple played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne.
Universal
2015's "We Are Your Friends" debuted with one of the worst opening weekends of all time, but would eventually earn over $10 million worldwide on a $2 million budget.
Warner Bros.
In January 2016, Efron starred with screen legend Robert De Niro for the R-rated comedy "Dirty Grandpa," continuing his comedy kick.
Lionsgate
Efron reunited with Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne for "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" in May 2016.
Universal
In 2016's "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates," Efron and Adam Devine played rowdy brothers who get their comeuppance when the meet even rowdier pals (Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza) who fake being prim to score a free trip to the guys' sister's wedding.
Fox
Efron teamed up with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for "Baywatch," a big-screen adaptation of the worldwide television hit that again puts the young star's buff body on full display.
Instagram
Efron went acrobatic in 2017's "The Greatest Showman," as a partner of P.T. Barnum who woos a trapeze artist (Zendaya).
Fox