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The African American Film Critics Association's 11th Annual AAFCA Awards - Inside

Source: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty

Deandre Arnold‘s fight against a school district that won’t let him walk for his graduation unless he cut his dreadlocks has gained numerous fans across many spectrums, including Hollywood.

Earlier this week, Arnold was gifted a $20,000 scholarship from Ellen DeGeneres and Alicia Keys for him to use for his college studies. Now one of his first supporters on social media, Gabrielle Union is taking her support one step further.

Union, along with husband Dwyane Wade and Academy Award-nominated Hair Love director Matthew A. Cherry have formally invited the teen to the Oscars in Los Angeles on February 9th!

For Cherry, who himself has locs, the move is not only a kind gesture of support for Arnold but embodies exactly what his film Hair Love is all about.

“We’ve all been so inspired by your story and this is the very least we can do to thank you for you standing up for yourself and your right to wear your natural hair in school,” Cherry said in a recorded message to Arnold.

“This is crazy,” Arnold said upon learning of the gesture. “I never thought people like D-Wade and Gabrielle Union would be on my side. The film is about hair love and me and my hair have kinda grown up together in a way. It’s like we’re best friends.”

RELATED: Deandre Arnold Gifted $20,000 Scholarship From Ellen & Alicia Keys In Wake Of Hair Controversy

RELATED: Black Teen Who Was Told To Cut Dreads In Order To Walk At Graduation Gets Support From Deandre Hopkins, Other Celebs

RELATED: Animated Short ‘Hair Love’ Is Finally Online For Every Little Black Girl To See!

‘Hair Love’ Director Matthew A. Cherry, Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade Invite Teen Fighting Loc Discrimination To Oscars  was originally published on myhoustonmajic.com