Teen suspended for dreadlocks attends Oscars with ‘Hair Love’ creators

February 9, 2020

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Texas high school student DeAndre Arnold, who was suspended from school and told he couldn’t walk at his graduation unless he cut his dreadlocks, made his Hollywood debut Sunday night.

Arnold attended this year’s Academy Awards as a guest to some of the creators of the animated film, “Hair Love.”

The short film follows a man, who also has dreadlocks, learning how to do his daughter’s hair for the first time.

and has been praised for its celebration of black hair.

Arnold appeared on the red carpet alongside Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver, the film’s director and producer, respectively.

He was invited to attend the ceremony after Cherry, former NBA player Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union — who are producers of “Hair Love” — heard his story.