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Culture May 14, 2019

Why Viola Davis won't use movie and TV stylists who don't 'honor' her hair, heritage

WATCH: Viola Davis says her daughter joined her on the set of 'Widows'

After a recent Teen Vogue article about the lack of black hairstylists in the entertainment industry went viral, Oscar-winner Viola Davis is weighing in on the topic.

In fact, she says she personally refuses to accept any hairstylist that won't "honor" her hair.

(MORE: Viola Davis talks new film, 'Widows' and the epic life lesson given by her 8-year-old daughter: 'She teaches me a lot')
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A great conversation about inclusion and diversity. #JuVee #Variety #InclusionSummit • • • #ICYMI: @ViolaDavis & #JuliusTennon gave a powerful keynote presentation at @Variety’s #InclusionSummit yesterday. #JuVeeProductions #JuVee #PowerCouple Repost from @juveeproductions

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“That has not been my narrative lately of hair because I refuse it. I reject it," she told Ebony, referring to the fact that she specifically only hires people who are well-versed in African American hair and hairstyles.

"I don’t think that people understand our hair...they don’t understand that we’re different, and yet, the same," Davis says. "What I find is, hair is something that a lot of people don’t honor when you do film.”

(MORE: Viola Davis says her daughter joined her on the set of 'Widows')
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Great chat with Kelly and Ryan about the Diabetes crisis. Thanks for having me!❤️ @livekellyandryan

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Davis explains that even if Hollywood doesn't respect black hair, she and her production company, JuVee Production, will continue to hire hairstylists who do.