Photo: CBS. Inset: Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Dwyane WadeandGabrielle Unionwill have a very special guest with them on this year’sOscarsred carpet.
The couple, who co-produced Academy Award-nominated short filmHair Love, along with the film’s creator Matthew A. Cherry, invited Texas teenDeAndre Arnoldto join them at the star-studded event on Sunday, Feb. 9 after the student claimed his high school told him to cut his dreadlocks or he couldn’t walk at graduation.
In avideo shared via Twitter on Friday, Union, Wade, and Cherry extended the exclusive invitation to Arnold and his mother, explaining that they would cover all travel and hotel costs, as well as “provide full wardrobe and glam for the big night,” courtesy of Dove.
Union, 47, said that the trio knew they had to get involved after hearing about Arnold’s story, which closely mirrored the inspirational one about a father and daughter inHair Love.
“You just wanting to wear your hair the way you want at school, and all the scrutiny you faced, and how unwavering you have been in standing up for yourself, we also knew we had to get involved,” she explained.
“We’re big fans. We love the way that you carry yourself and we wanted to do something special for you,” Wade, 38, chimed in. “You and your mother Sandy are the official guests of the Oscar-nominated team behindHair Loveat the 2020 Academy Awards this Sunday. So get ready, you’re going tothe Oscars.”
TheHair Lovecreator also called on state legislatures to pass theCrown Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” and prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture. (The law has already been passed in California, New York, and New Jersey, according to its website.)
“We’re so proud & cannot wait to meet him,”Cherry wrote. “The Crown Act needs to be passed in all 50 states & can’t think of a better example of why.”
After learning of the exciting news, Arnold was in disbelief.
“It’s crazy. I never thought that people like D. Wade and Gabrielle Union would be on my side,” he toldCBS This Morning. “The film is about hair love and me and my hair kinda grew up together in a way. It’s like we’re best friends.”
“It really just means so much that we get an invite like this,” Arnold added. “It means the world to us.”
Rich Fury/Getty
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic
The senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas first brought forward the allegations against his school toCBS This Morningand local news stationKPRClast week.
Arnold has since changed high schools,according to Cherry.
The student said his hair had always met the school district’s policies until recently, when he received an in-school suspension after he refused to cut it.
His mother Sandy told KPRC that after Christmas break and three months before graduation, the school district changed the dress code policy. They allegedly later told Arnold that he is not allowed back in school and cannot walk in his upcoming graduation until his dreadlocks are cut.
Sandy explained toCBS This Morningthat she believes the lack of diversity in the district is the issue.
“There is no people of color on the school board. I get it that they don’t understand his hair,” she said.
She also told KPRC that she attempted to reach out to board members and the superintendent to come to a conclusion together, but she claims she never received a response.
Barbers Hill School District did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment but on its website, seemingly addressed the controversy.
RELATED VIDEO: Kentucky High School Lifts Hairstyle Ban After Furious Parents and Students Call Policy Racist
“Every summer we meet as a Team of 8 to review standing goals and to add new goals that we believe are important to our district. There are a few district goals that have been in place for decades and they include: student safety, academics, finance, community involvement, and dress code. We are truly blessed to live in a community where these things are still important in our schools,” they went on.
“We do not claim to be perfect in any of these areas, but we do strive to deliver excellence in all of them as well as meet our community’s expectation. One of the things that sets us apart from other districts is maintaining our high standards. It is an absolute honor to represent this community and the best school district in the state, and we appreciate the support from each and every one of you,” the district finished.
This isn’t the first time that Arnold has been met with support from the Hollywood community since sharing his story.
On Wednesday’s episode ofThe Ellen DeGeneres Show,DeGeneres, 62, andAlicia Keyspresented Arnold with a $20,000 college scholarship.
“He deserves to graduate, to walk with all the other kids,” DeGeneres said.
Keys, 39, added, “I’m super proud of you for standing up for what you know is right. I know the school needs to do the right thing.”
source: people.com
