Academy Awards 2020: 'Hair Love' director brings teen suspended over dreadlocks to Oscars

A Texas high school senior who reportedly was banned from participating in his graduation ceremony because of his hairstyle got a chance to show off his dreadlocks Sunday on the Academy Awards red carpet.

According to the Dallas Morning News, DeAndre Arnold, 18, of Mont Belvieu, joined "Hair Love" director Matthew Cherry and others involved with the making of the animated short film as they attended the Oscars on Sunday night.

DeAndre Arnold was blocked from walking high school graduation after being told his locs violate school dress codes.

Now, he's walking the #Oscars red carpet after an invite from @MatthewACherry + @itsgabrielleu. pic.twitter.com/dTPnmUfdoX
— AJ+ (@ajplus) February 9, 2020

Cherry decided to bring Arnold to the awards show after learning that Barbers Hill High School had suspended the teen and prohibited him from walking in the commencement ceremony. The reason? Officials believed his dreadlocks were too long.

"Since DeAndre Arnold's school didn't want to let him walk at his graduation because of his hair, we figured that he should walk with us on the red carpet at the #Oscars as our special guest," Cherry tweeted Jan. 31.

Since Deandre Arnold’s school didnt want to let him walk at his graduation because of his hair we figured that he should walk with us on the red carpet at the #Oscars as our special guest. Thank you @itsgabrielleu @DwyaneWade & @Dove for their help. pic.twitter.com/RD8cv0iL8G
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 31, 2020

"Hair Love," which Cherry said was made in an effort to "normalize black hair," went on to win the Oscar for best animated short, CNN reported.