Is Natural Hair Formal? According to Wendy Williams, No, It’s Not

February 27th, 2012 - By MN Editor

Source: mybrownbaby.com

That’s probably why I was so sad, but not surprised to hear that Wendy Williams wasn’t so much of a fan of Davis’ look. While conversing about the fashion’s from last night’s Oscar’s on her show today with a fashion critic, Wendy turned to her audience and tried to let her natural viewers know she meant no harm, but that in the end, she doesn’t want to see  a “Room 222″ look on the red carpet.

WTF?

There isn’t any video from the exchange yet, but there’s already a big response to it. From YouTube videos about Wendy’s comments, to emails sent to us by our readers who were appalled by it. After doing some research on the show, Room 222 was a show from the late ’60s and early ’70s about a history class taught by a black man. Still lost? Yeah, I was too. Coincidentally, the teacher, Pete Dixon, had a short afro, and the only other black female character I saw had a small curly style that later became a larger curly ‘fro style. I’m hoping Williams wasn’t saying Davis resembled the male teacher with her natural hair, or maybe she was saying the natural look was out of touch as a ’70s thing, but either way, the reference to the show was random and pretty unnecessary. No matter what she was trying to say, she gave off the impression that natural isn’t acceptable around the grown and classy on the red carpet.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. As someone with her own television show and the power to do good things with her influence, it always boggles me how Wendy spends a lot of the time being negative. Her opinion isn’t one that had to be muted by any means, but she could have easily said, “I wasn’t really feeling the look, but I’m happy Viola is comfortable in her skin. I just couldn’t have done it.” But no, she chose to take a dig at her look and give the impression that yes, being natural and yourself in all facets isn’t welcomed on Hollywood’s biggest night. I guess if you left it up to Wendy, we would all be rocking heavy wigs and struggling to keep our heads up on the red carpet.

While many women are making the transition to natural hair (as always do what works for YOU though), it doesn’t mean every woman who does it is 100 percent comfortable embracing their natural strands the minute they expose them to the world. It often takes time, months, if not years sometimes to get used to your own hair, how it feels and how it looks so that you don’t worry about what other people think your hair should look like. So while a woman is publicly in the process of doing that, it sucks to know that a fellow black woman whose words are pretty influential for some reason, felt the need to make her the butt of a lame joke. Don’t get me wrong, to say that on national television in front of an audience of women, many of who were probably natural, isn’t the worst thing ever done by any means, but it is pretty freaking sad. Even by Wendy’s standards.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Kerr/1586714427 Karen Kerr

    How dare WW disparage natural black women’s hair. She has 20 inches of some white womans’ hair sewn on her head, claiming to be “keeping it real” but too indoctrinated to wear her own hair? I’m so done with her.

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  • Katherine Leonard

    All Black woman are not into the European standard of beauty.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_X5DAN7W5QO3PB3N7HXUCO3ZU4Y George

    Is there anyone on this planet who listens to or considers Wendy’s opionon anything but the ravings of a very frustrated, unsatisfied woman?

  • suggz

    OH and high five, and a fist bump to Viola”s husband. No disrespect to her (she has been blessed) but i would Love to give him a huge hug for supporting her and encouraging her to show off her natural beauty so the world could see her in her Natural Magnificence as God made her. She was fabulous! I wish many more black men would be so openly supportive and vocal about loving us being US. ~sniffs~

  • suggz

    I was really disappointed to hear this comment from Wendy. But, if we consider the source who have to realize that here is a person who really isn’t comfortable in her own skin. she apparently has a lot of insecurities herself. Hence all of the plastic surgeries.  I is really sad to for us as women of color that we had for fight all of these misconceptions of Beauty.  We are a regal people, we should carry ourselves with a regal bearing.  I too struggle with my own concept of my beauty. I have gone back to au natural. and there are times when i am tempted by external sources to “get a weave” buy a pony tail, because we are going out, but, i resist and curl my natural hair (water, oil, & conditioner). and roll out. I have gotten more compliments, than my smile can handle.  More often than not from White men, for pete’s sake.

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  • Seyoun54

    I’m going to assume that wendy williams doesn’t wear his/her own hair is because she/he has male pattern baldness, like a bunch of men do.

  • Mhayesesq

    I don’t like the idea that ANYONE would ask Wendy Williams. As someone who’s worn wigs and weaves her ENTIRE career, she most likely lacks the ability to wear her hair natural, as weaves and certain wigs ruin natural hair. I’ll bet Wendy has bald spots at her edges and her natural wouldn’t look as good. She’s not an appropriate judge for anyone but those who are like her. And I think Viola Davis looked stunning. Her hair was neat, and we’re talking about the same red carpet that had women who PURPOSELY went with a messy look…

  • Msfrancescalh64

    Wendy Willams was SOOOOOO WRONG fir that comment. :( !