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Zendaya fights back at 'bad role model' accusations

Written by . Published: March 14 2016

Zendaya is hitting back at comedienne Julie Klausner for suggesting she is a bad role model.


The actress/singer accepted the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Star - Kids' Show for her role on K.C. Undercover on Saturday (12Mar16), and during her acceptance speech, she praised her fans for their support, explaining she tries to maintain a positive image for them.


"I've been doing this for a long time, and I do it for you guys," she told the audience at the Inglewood, California prizegiving. "I just want you to know that doing and making positive programming for young people is so important to me, and I will keep doing it. To all the parents out there, thank you for allowing me to be a role model for your children."


Zendaya's speech did not go down well with outspoken writer Julie, who blasted the 19-year-old for being too skinny.


"Zendaya's ultimate retort to Giuliana Rancic is starving herself down to the size of one of her elbowz (sic)," she wrote on Twitter.com on Saturday.


Zendaya famously feuded with Fashion Police co-host Giuliana last year (15) after she remarked the teen probably smelled like "patchouli... maybe weed" while commenting on the dreadlocks the star showed off at the 2015 Academy Awards.


Zendaya fired back, branding the stereotypical remarks "offensive" and "disrespectful", and Giuliana subsequently apologized.


Julie did not reference Zendaya's style, but continued to criticize her weight in her Twitter rant.


"You don't have to have an eating disorder to attend the Kids' Choice Awards....but it helps," she continued. "I will never stop criticizing celebs who perpetuate dangerous beauty standards for a generation of girls who grow up thinking they're fat."


"I'm concerned with the generation of girls who aspire to look like Zendaya. I do not worry about Zendaya's health or care whether she eats," she added.


Zendaya's fans attacked the Difficult People star online and the actress herself later fired back, writing, "Do you find this funny? I will write another paragraph to educate you aswell (sic) #youreallywannabenext?"


"Now....everyone go look in the mirror at their beautiful body, and love that s**t #thickgirlswinning #skinnygirlswinning #weallwinning," she added.


However, the 37-year-old was not impressed by Zendaya's response and she tried to have the last word.


"Zendaya's threat to write another paragraph is more dread inducing than (North Korean dictator) Kim Jong Un's fronting about the bomb he has," she quipped.

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