India Arie has defended Zendaya Coleman following the teen star's feud with U.S. Tv presenter Giuliana Rancic over her Oscars red carpet appearance.

Fashion Police co-host Rancic provoked a storm on Monday (23Feb15) when she insisted Coleman probably "smells like patchouli... maybe weed" while commenting on the star's dreadlocks on the Academy Awards on Sunday (22Feb15).

Coleman branded the remarks "offensive" and "disrespectful" and Rancic's co-star Kelly Osbourne considered quitting the show over the backlash, and now singer Arie has now weighed in on the drama, congratulating Coleman for standing up for herself.

In a post on her blog, she writes, "We need more more compassion in this world. Period... So I'm not mad at Giuliana Rancic. I'm sad at her. I'm sad that things like this keep happening. Im sad that theres (sic) an actual form of entertainment where people are excused to be snarky and unkind, that's the real issue.

"What I'm baffled by is how we put people in boxes so easily... (The remark is) offensive. It has a racist edge. But also it's also (sic) just off base. Way off base. This is why people are mad... I love you Zendaya. You're empowerment and self definition is the most beautiful thing here!"

Rancic has since apologised for her comments on Twitter.com and made an appearance on E! News in the U.S. on Tuesday (24Feb15) to say sorry again.

She said, "I just want everyone to know, I didn't intend to hurt anybody. But I've learned it's not my intent that matters, it's the result, and the result is that people are offended, including Zendaya, and that is not okay... I want to say to Zendaya, and anyone else out there that I have hurt, that I am so, so sincerely sorry."