A fashion correspondent for E! News called Chase Infiniti’s ethnic braids “almost undone” at the 98th Oscar Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15, in Hollywood, California.
The “One Battle After Another” star graced the red carpet in a custom lilac Louis Vuitton gown adorned with cascading ruffles. She accessorized with waist length boho knotless braids extensions styled by celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno.
Chase, 25, was one of the many Black stars to wear braids on the 2026 Oscars red carpet on Sunday night. “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler showcased his man braids on the red carpet.
However, E! News fashion correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi chose to insult Chase for wearing “undone hair.”
“Let’s think about this awesome, almost like undone hair with the done dress. Actually, it’s mirroring the ruffles on the dress, that beautiful hair,” Zanna said during the Oscars broadcast.
black women still going through this in 2026 is so crazy…. https://t.co/BiA2OREbqu
— COWGIRL. (@kre___) March 16, 2026
“It is intentional,” Chase told Essence magazine on the red carpet.
“I’m in this very fortunate place where I have an incredible team around me, and we can showcase curls in their full beauty and also show that, like, they can be dressed up, and you don’t have to show up with a silk press to every event because that’s what is, I guess, palatable for people. So I think it’s important to showcase our hair and the versatility of our hair, because we can do so much with it, like even getting to do braids today.”
Zanna, who is white, is a British born, New York-based journalist and businesswoman. She is a co-founder of Milk Makeup and is currently the Fashion-Editor-at-Large for Marie Claire, as well as fashion correspondent for E! News.
Social media users were quick to point out the similarities between Zanna’s statement and Giuliana Rancic describing Zendaya’s faux locs during the 2015 Oscar Awards.
Giuliana faced backlash for saying Zendaya’s hair looks like it “smells like patchouli oil or maybe weed.”
E! News reporter claimed that Chase Infiniti’s braids were not done properly, describing them as ‘undone.’ #oscars
— Rain Drops Media (@Raindropsmedia1) March 16, 2026
Young Black women, such as my niece Lolly (pictured) embrace their natural hair as an expression of freedom from wigs and hair extensions. Lolly washes and conditions her natural hair at home. Her friends also celebrate and embrace the beautiful texture of their natural hair following reports that synthetic hair weave contains petroleum products that cause cancer.
Black women wear their natural hair to work, play, and even weddings. But they risk resentment and jealousy from other Black women who despise the natural hair movement.
What was the purpose of this quote though? You immediately went to posting women with fake hair even though the post was giving options to women who want to wear their NATURAL hair for their weddings. But somehow it's society that stops black women from wearing their natural hair https://t.co/I4apzFirIf
— Coco.x.g???? (@Chocoxg1) March 16, 2026
This is like .01% of black women who wear their natural hair in America. Most of them wear the hair of another race or synthetic hair made from petroleum plastics.
— Haze_Zi (@NUKlear1945) March 16, 2026
The wig was created to make the black woman loose confidence In their natural hair beauty. Making them feel inferior or like their Afro hair is not beautiful; in reality, black beauty is the standard.
— Brownie (@The_Browniee) March 16, 2026
And also plenty of black women wear their natural hair on the everyday basis sometimes yes we like to switch it up but mainly social media is what make y'all have this perception just because we don't wear our hair 24 seven doesn't mean we hate ourselves
— shauna?? (@Loml99723604) March 16, 2026
