Zendaya Coleman has chosen to take the high road when it comes to her feud with Giuliana Rancic.
As previously detailed, Rancic first apologized to Zendaya after the actress posted a lengthy, well-reasoned message on Instagram that called the E! Fashion Police host out for an inappropriate comment she made regarding Zendaya's dreadlocks.
Giuliana said the look made her think Zendaya "smells like patchouli oil… or maybe weed."
Once Rancic's words went viral, many called for her to be fired from the Fashion Police, which prompted Giuliana to issue a second apology last night.
Giuliana Rancic Apologizes to Zendaya
Since then, many stars (such as Solange, Kerry Washington and Khloe Kardashian) have shown support for Zendaya, who has refrained comment on the topic following her initial response.Until now.
"Studies have shown that even though we try to act without prejudice, sometimes it's just hidden inside us due to our past or surroundings," Zenaya wrote on Instagram this afternoon.
"That hidden prejudice is often influential in our actions. It's our job to spot these issues within others and ourselves and destroy them before they become hurtful. I have so many people looking up to me, that I couldn't be scared, wait it out, nor could I just stand up for me; I had to do it for WE."
Zendaya, sounding far more mature than her 18 years, concluded:
It is important in this journey to remember that just because someone has inflicted hurt upon us, it does not give us the right to do the same. Body shaming and other hurtful tactics will never get the job done.
As hard as it was to stop MYSELF from being ignorant and from posting the first mean words that came to my mind because I was hurt, I had to think about the bigger picture. Instead I sat for two hours on my phone, doing my research and formulating an educated response.
Giuliana, I appreciate your apology and I'm glad it was a learning experience for you and for the network. I hope that others negatively affected by her words can also find it in their hearts to accept her apology as well. From a quote we all know by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.' Let's be that light and spread that love."
