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Giuliana Rancic coming to Naperville after Oscar flap

Reality TV star and E News! host Giuliana Rancic, who made headlines for what some considered racist comments about Disney star Zendaya Coleman's hair during a review of the Oscar-night red carpet on “Fashion Police,” will be in Naperville in April to sign copies of her new book.

Rancic suggested on the often snippy TV show that Zendaya's dreadlocked hairstyle smelled like “patchouli oil” or “weed.”

Rancic since has made several public apologies and a spokeswoman for Anderson's Bookshop said the flap didn't cause the store to make any changes concerning Rancic's scheduled appearance.

“We'll just see who shows up,” said Candy Purdom, events and publicity coordinator for Anderson's. “I realize that's been in the news lately, but we're not going to worry too much about that.”

Rancic is scheduled to appear at 7 p.m. April 9 at Anderson's at 123 W. Jefferson Ave., in downtown Naperville. Customers who order her book, “Going Off Script,” in advance will be guaranteed a spot in line to meet Rancic.

Rancic won't be the first star to come to the bookstore shortly after a public controversy. Baseball's Jose Canseco, for example, visited around the time he made statements at congressional hearings about steroids in sports, Purdom said.

“We have had those kinds of situations,” she said.

If fans are angry with the celebrity authors, she said, they usually just stay home.

Several other reality TV stars have made appearances at the store, including Guiliana's husband and “The Apprentice” winner, Bill Rancic, “Laguna Beach” star Lauren Conrad and Skinnygirl Cocktail founder Bethenny Frankel.

Others who have appeared at events sponsored by Anderson's include “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, Julie Andrews, Caroline Kennedy and, most recently, George W. Bush.

Purdom said there won't be a limit on the number of priority numbers that will be available for Rancic's visit, but only people who buy the book from Anderson's will get a number and spot in line.

Anyone who purchases the book elsewhere can come to the event, but they will have to wait to meet Rancic until everybody who bought the book at the store is done.

“Going Off Script” is a memoir that gives fans an inside look into Rancic's life outside E! News, “Fashion Police” and her reality show, “Giuliana & Bill,” according to a news release. In it, Rancic details some of her “L.A. misadventures” with celebrities and reflects on her battles with infertility and breast cancer. The book will be released April 7.

Zendaya Coleman arrives at Sunday's Oscars. Reality TV star and E News! host Giuliana Rancic suggested on her "Fashion Police" TV show that the Disney star's dreadlocked hairstyle smelled like "patchouli oil" or "weed," comments that some considered to be racist. Associated Press
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