UPDATE — Victoria's Secret has apologized for putting a Native American-style headdress on a model for its annual fashion show, after the outfit was criticized as a display of ignorance toward tribal culture and history.
The company responded to the complaints over the weekend by saying it was sorry to have upset anyone and that it wouldn't include the outfit in the show's television broadcast next month, or in any marketing materials.
"We sincerely apologize as we absolutely had no intention to offend anyone," the company said.
Headdresses historically are a symbol of respect, worn by Native American war chiefs and warriors. For many Plains tribes, for example, each feather placed on a headdress has significance and had to be earned through an act of compassion or bravery. Some modern-day Native American leaders have been gifted war bonnets in ceremonies accompanied by prayers and songs.
"When you see a Lakota chief wearing a full headdress, you know that he was a very honorable man. He was a leader. He did a lot of honorable things for his people," said Michelle Spotted Elk, a Santa Cruz, Calif., woman of mixed heritage whose husband is Lakota. "It also has religious significance. With them, there's not a division between spirituality and their leadership."
Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss walked onto the runway last week wearing the floor-length feathered headdress, leopard-print underwear and high heels. She also was adorned with fringe and turquoise jewelry during a segment meant to represent the 12 months of the year — fireworks in July, rain gear for April and a headdress for November.
Kloss herself posted on Twitter that she was "deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone."
Thousands of people have commented about the outfit on the company's Facebook page. Some praised Kloss' attire as artistic and urged those offended by it to "get over it." Some expressed appreciation to Victoria's Secret for halting its marketing approach for the clothing, and others reached back in history to explain their feelings.
"We have gone through the atrocities to survive and ensure our way of life continues," Navajo Nation spokesman Erny Zah said in an interview Monday. "Any mockery, whether it's Halloween, Victoria's Secret — they are spitting on us. They are spitting on our culture, and it's upsetting."
The Victoria's Secret stir follows a string of similar incidents. Recently, Paul Frank Industries Inc. and the band No Doubt each ran into criticism for their use of headdresses in clothing and parties, and in a cowboys-and-Indians-themed video, respectively. They offered apologies as well.
Last year, Urban Outfitters set off a firestorm of criticism with its line of Navajo-branded clothing and accessories — particularly underwear and a liquor flask, which the tribe said was "derogatory and scandalous."
Abaki Beck was among a handful of Native students who hosted a discussion last week at a private liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minn., on Native culture in fashion and sports. She said companies first must learn from the mistake of ignoring Native American history and then make an effort to engage with Indian Country.
She wanted more than a short apology from Victoria's Secret instead of what she said sounded like an automated response.
"But perhaps that is an unrealistic hope," said the 19-year-old member of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. "It is all about business, after all."
Jennie Luna, who is Chicana and Caxcan, said society largely is ignorant toward indigenous spirituality and doesn't understand what should not be marketed commercially. She and others say more education about Native American cultures is needed.
"We are people; we're not a fashion statement," Luna said. "We are people who are facing serious issues, and for them to further perpetuate the type of stereotypes and disregard for a community's way of life is unacceptable."
ReGina Zuni's advice to companies looking to market Native American culture is to hire Native Americans who have knowledge of tribal traditions, cultures and customs.
However, her reaction to hearing about the Victoria's Secret headdress wasn't outrage about the clothing itself, but about the lack of attention on health care, education, housing and other issues in Indian Country.
"To each his own," said Zuni, of Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico. "But seriously, if people want to grab media attention on Indian issues, this is not the issue to advance and place in the spotlight."
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I think they know exactly what they were doing... now this is in the news at x mas time..really??im half cherokee..mother is full...im not satisfied with"oops...were sorry..we did not know....BULLSHIT!! Thanks..
The model is beautiful, inside and out! The company apologized & the model apologized. That should be sufficient! The headdress was used because it is beautiful!
You ignorant stupid assholes!! WE ARE A CULTURE NOT A COSTUME!!
so nobody in the world except Native elders should wear this? I am sorry for being ignorant, but you know I dont dont everything!!!!!
You wouldnt see them dressing their models in Muslim apparel.
Just like with anybodys culture, people should get permission and want to use something authentic or representative ov what they are trying to convey, but its just a world ov gimmicks and they can always just apologize and say, well we meant it to be beautiful.
What is the big deal...I am Native American and don't see this as any different than the secret models wearing angel wings....or the site that has butter pecan rican outfits...or the site that has Muslim costumes as sexy lingerie...come on we are who we are and a simple little outfit does not define us, we ARE Native Americans and we ARE strong and proud this cannot and will not make me feel anything less than proud to be Indian. I really think that a business like Victoria's secret meant absolutely no harm or disrespect when they used this outfit with a head dress.
I want to see this model (or any model for that matter- I cant believe these women demote themselves to a visual piece of meat and to the point no one cares who they actually are as a person)strut around in a Popes hat or Queens crown.
the native tribes should sue them for it. if a native did this they would get sued.
I'm native and this doesn't bother me at all,be positive n give helpful criticism and help them be more educated about our culture in short don't be an ass hat ..
head dresses are worn by men for one thing, and Native women are taught to respect their bodies. beauty or not it was used inapproperatley
I know that Victoria Secret may have meant no harm, but it angers Native americans who are traditional because like it says in the article "Respected MEN" were the headress kastowa and they were worn by chiefs. Do you understand now?
as a native american i have no problem with a model wearing a fake headdress at a modeling show big deal enjoy the moment , dont let a bunch of cry baby natives with nothing better to do than whine about someone stealing some culture , they can get over it and get a life
This proves, Native American women are more beautiful than models or any other races of women. I'm apache and was actually offended by this and Gwen's video. Our outfits are NOT costumes or not meant to be worn sexy. It like a white girl dressing as harriett tubman or rosa parks. Yeah, get the picture. If they want a girl to dress as a native, than please use a real native women or model.
disrespectful, and for her to be whooping (hand over her mouth) is really, really derogatory! I thought those days were over, but to see it being portrayed like that is racist. She was told to act like that, and she practiced so I believe Victoria's Secret is to blame. To the leader, thanks for keeping racism alive, and to the employees, thanks for standing up for something you know was wrong. Or were you too ignorant to understand, but then again you know what they say, you're ignorance personifies your intelligence. Blackfoot member of the Blood Tribe First Nation.
I believe the Native American community should address these issues through legislation. That's what chambers, DR and Senators are for. Plus, create a really proactive team to come close to these companies and situations, and transform them to more than a big tabloid discussion, to an opportunity to cultivate others into it.
It'd be so cool to watch a future VS fashion parade or any other designer house, bringing those elements to the runway in a respectful and profoundly meaningful way!
It just makes me so mad even thinking about this! Many people think "Oh it's just cloths" Well not to me (Blackfoot, Assinibione and Cree/ A member of the Fort Belknap indian reservation, Montana!)They've turned something honorable into something slutty! Now when people see a headdress they're gonna be reminded on this, not who and what they're really for! It's just disgusting in my eyes!
I am a full blood Oglala lakota & I didn't even like this at all. I'm still a young generation, & the way i was taught is women hav to respect their bodies & respect the men. We aren't even allowed to touch the headdress or the feathers that belong to the men.
Media & companies tht think this is ok needs to think before they act, but they never will cuz its all about that money. Goes to show how ignorant people can get when all they want is cash cash cash.
Imagine what us Mexican feel everytime a movie producer/director displays Mexico in a parodial way. Which is SO often!! Imagine the insult the whole Apocalypse movie was. We still get over it and laugh. We just think: white people are so stupid and ignorant.
headresses are meant for honourable male "NATIVE CHIEFS" who have respectfully earned their headresses feather by feather. They are not meant for "WHITE" models to parade down a runway on...advertising TARZAN and Jane bikini wear! in this outfit the model would have looked best with a monkey ("cheetah" tarzans monkey) on her shoulder! Now that would have made more of a statement with the outfit in mention than the headress. We can most certainly hope that VS learned their lesson this time. How many native woman model for you?? now thats a question worth asking! Proud to be metis and canadian!!
Really what is this world coming too.. Respect our ways! Simple as that. Thanks.
White people are and can be absolute Neanderthals...they need to understand with respect the native way(I'm half Cherokee by my father) or any culture in this matter.I agree with a post from the top of this forum,If they dressed a model in Muslim,Jewish,"Nazi" clothing or any other culture,would there be a(n) apology? Elders should be the only wear headdress.Even if it was meant to be "beautiful". Sorry,more than a apology is in order here.
The headdress represents respect in Native history, as a First Nations person myself, this is insulting, we do not represent ourselves and seek respect half naked, we earn it by compassion or bravery, the vs company may not have ment and disprespect intentionally but perhaps you white people should think about what certain articles of First Nations attire mean and what symbolism is behind it, white people should think about their actions and stop being arrogant about it, just because they apologized for this doesnt mean jack all, yes the models beautiful and yes so is the headdress but they DO NOT belong together, especially if your not Native or have any Native history
If u r Native an don't see what is wrong with it maybe you should go talk with your elders. Its a matter of respect honor.
well said
Sad how ignorant whit people are
wow..she is gorgeous!!! wrong outfit but good try...hmmmnnnn i wonder why shes not native...oh i know why....because were evolving in the wrong industry!!!! its wrong for a white woman to try to dress like us but its okay for a native to show her cooochee!!!
exactly! respect Native culture
I think people forgot that Cher's been doing this for the last 30 some years. Google "half breed" by Cher. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKBDfqjrIQ&feature=related
damn that whole picture is wrong completely.. even for the outfit is disgusting expect the headdress
Lmao wasn't to long ago people thought of us as savages and wanted nothing to do with us, yet they think it's fine to take out cultural look just like they did with our land and wear it.
Fuck the white man!
As a Chiricahua Apache woman I am tired of people making a costume out of our culture. It is bad enough that my daughter gets ridiculed in school for being a Native, but having her see it as a costume instead of her heritage sucks.
As a full blooded Ojibwe woman I find this so disrespectful!! There is so many races that have history months or weeks, do we Natives have any type of respect or history being taught in public schools? NO! People cannot help that they have no sense when it comes to our BEAUTIFUL culture! That is something that needs to be taught more! We are people, we have education, and NO we do not live in teepees!! EDUCATE YOURSELF!
People hardly ever represent our culture in the public eye.. Go figure when they finally do its a white girl in a thong and bra... Haha how ya like that shit?
This is mass media acting like we're extinct! Hello world we are still here and still strong! Have some FUCKING respect for our heritage!
So what you are saying is that nobody should wear a crown or dress in royal attire because it is the dress of the royal families in England and nobody should wear costumes of any presidents because they are men to be respected and nobody should dress as any king, queen, prince emperor or of any person of any kind of power in any culture of any kind because it might offend and disrespect. Seems to me that you are causing the disrespct by making such an issue out of something so beautiful. People wear beautiful outfits of all cultures not just Native Americans and it is not a disrespect it is just a beautiful outfit. You are the ones that keep the hate going by hating everything that might slightly offend you when their is no offense being done. I love Native American attire and have great respect for its history and culture including that of the warriors and Chiefs I have read and study the ways. Looking at a beautiful woman in a beautiful outfit takes none of that away. This conversation however does. Disrespct goes both ways and the comments on white people are just as wrong, hate is hate either way you look at it and that is all I see here is hate and disrespect.
Tell us when u are native and truely understand why this bothers us. It is not hate it is dissapointment.
Well said....
i think both Native people and white people have their bad points, however i do find the use of a both sacred and meaningful traditional item in a manner like this by either VS or a "rock star" is very offensive. we do not play crazy white man at Halloween so we should not be personified during a fashion show or music video. i feel if proper measures were taken to add a bit of teachings, and show off the head dress and other outfits in a manner that tougt others about who our people are and where we came from it may be a bit more aceptable. at this point i wonder if companies are just trying to get away with whatever they can. the use of the word sorry eventually stops meaning anything
That is not what the problem is. Its the way she went about displaying our highly respected Head Dress. That is why there is so much anger! We are not saying its not ok to dress up as a prince, princess, queen etc. Its when something we as Native people hold something so near and dear, highly respected have something like this happen and made a mockery of. A woman wearing a thong and bra hooting and howling like a damn fool mocking our beliefs in such a rude and offensive manner! And as far as the comments of White people, yes I agree that is offensive and uncalled for! You cant hate an entire race for the acts of one stupid one who needs to brush up on her/their history!
"Reading and studying" Our ways is not the same as actually LIVING our ways. If you were Native, im sure you would understand.
They probably just figured that no Natives were still alive to say anything negative about her attire...Ignorance at it's best.
If you truely lived your ways you would not be on the computer caring about this really!! I have lived off of the land have hunted and gathered, heated my house with wood heat and grown my own food and dried and stored in some of the old ways of the Native Americans. So reading and studying is part of living your ways. I also do the Native American Sweat Lodges and many rituals and healings that focus around the Native American Tradition all done on sacred land created with the medicine wheel and all. Again just judgement is all you are creating also my cousin who I love dearly is Native American 100% he is my family because his Native American parents gave him up. Not a judgement just a statement. People are people good or bad. Reading and Studying is how we all learn, about life and history about people and their ways, it is how we learn and learn to respect. Just dressing like a culture doesn't make it a culture either It takes the whole experience. Is this the experience you want people to see and remember?
I am glad that our ppl are standing up for our heritage ,I as a souix & ojibway woman was deeply offended when I saw VS w/ their model wooping it up & I don't know who it was that said that it's not the fact she was just wearing it because it was beautiful, And what is the difference w/ wearing a crown or dressing like a queen etc... It means much more than that. as a number of ppl said each feather had to be earned by a Great warrior and Chief,As a decendent of Sitting Bull .I am sickened to see how we are portrayed ie: the flask on one of the clothing company's items.I respect our traditions & heritage ,the white man should do the same .To those that say " no big deal "you only show your ignorence!!& to those that are native & say's it doesn't bother them in any way ,then you don't regard our heritage as being important.
I didn't publish my native name for privacy,I consider our traditions & heritage just as important as a muslum ,or african's .respect our's !unless you are native you don't have a CLUE .
To the person who refered to Cher....she is native american.
White, black, brown, yellow, or blue, are not seperate races of people, they are lifestyles and states of mind!
No true native woman would agree to comply with this type of deception, nor wear the dress of another tribe!
It is truly Grotesque; why must those "white minds" drag native culture into their unbridled whoredoms?!
Those "high white minds" love to rub everything in our faces, and most likely did this on purpose; knowing this is national "Native Heritage" month.
It is not the royal dress that we find offensive, it is it's portrayal as a common whore; get it?!
Grow up
Bullshit natives wouldn't get sued cause everyone wants to baby then over something that happened hundreds of years ago!!! Really sue them? And give them more fucking free money so they can't be independent and work for themselves??? I'm not raciest at all in fact half my friends r native but this Shit needs to fucking stop.
And I honestly hope u go to hell u dumb racist Bitch!!!
Y must u native minds be so damn racist? Eat a Dick!!
WHITE PEOPLE???.fuck all of u racist ppl!!! Seriously fuck off
LOL how many native women model for them?? Maybe if natives weren't crying around about money and get off there asses to actually do something instead of getting there fucking foodstamps and money coming in to them they would be up there!!! But no u guys get free money while us white ppl fucking work our asses off. I have native in me very little. But I find native culture very interesting. In fact I have danced in powwows cause my step grandma is full native and made me a dress so was I being offensive?? NO!!! Stop fucking crying around for fuck sake
"LOL how many native women model for them?? Maybe if natives weren't crying around about money and get off there asses to actually do something instead of getting there fucking foodstamps and money coming in to them they would be up there!!! But no u guys get free money while us white ppl fucking work our asses off. I have native in me very little. But I find native culture very interesting. In fact I have danced in powwows cause my step grandma is full native and made me a dress so was I being offensive?? NO!!! Stop fucking crying around for fuck sake"
What a dick hole....yes you were being offensive. Why wear cultural clothes and participate in a sacred event, and look down on all those who believe in it. Ooooo your step grandma made you a dress..you should feel honored with the privilege, instead of forsaking what native you do have in you. Even as a non blood family member she gave you a great gift. "instead of getting there fucking foodstamps" perhaps you should do more for yourself and further your education with some basic grammar..."their" foodstamps, as in the food stamps that belong to them not "there" foodstamps as in where there foodstamps are. But you're probably too busy working your ass off somewhere to exercise your brain thang...
This reminds me of "Shackle Shoes" by Adidas. They weren't intending any harm with their innovative design..BUT a little bit of thought into the matter should have ended this shoe-tastrophe before it ever hit the assembly line. I'm just glad Victoria Secret responded to peoples feelings appropriately by pulling this item before it made for more embarrassment. It was a beautiful piece..just used inappropriately
"butter pecan rican"? what is that some kind of joke? you may be native american but you were most likely raised in a white community where you see nothing wrong with this because your beliefs are the same as dumbass white peoples' beliefs.
Really, get over yourselves already. They said sorry and I mean come on, like no one ever wore anyone else's "cultures" before just because they are beautiful. WOW some people get a life and a grip on reality. HELLO, it is the 21st century, not the 1800's. I thought that our society has grown, but I guess some want to remain in the dark. Oh well, it just goes to show you who as a whole has bettered themselves and who has just turned their back on society. But your ass that when they need the governements help that they will be the first in line bitching about it again. Double standards... I am glad I raise my kids OPEN and to accept all cultures and to be themselves NO MATTER what.
Let me tell you somethin you white piece of shit faggot..... as a full blooded member of isleta pueblo, I find this fuckin rasict for even wearing this head dress.. Even though im not souix, cherrokee, or lakota, I have respect for them... Nd then you white bastards come nd try to use somethin that we have been using for hundreds of years thats a sign of respect to us... Then yoy put it on a white slut thinkin its ok... fuck you white people for sayin that all we do is sit on our asses nd say that all we do is drink, get money, nd get food stamp nd say we should be doin somethin else than this... If you white fucks never took away our land, kill off our people, force us to move out of our land, nd kill our native animals for food, yuh wouldnt be sayin this shit... If I had the chance I would fuckin beat the shit out of yuh for sayin thats all we do... If.it wasnt for your white bitchy ass ancestors, we wouldnt be livin like this... So shut the fuck up nd dont say its not a sighn of disresct until you have lived the way we have... your fuckin lucky I will never meet you or see you in person, because if I did, just as I said, I will beat the fuck outa you nd show you what I could do for sayin this shit... Watch yourself when you are around indians nd start talkin shit bout them, cuz they will fuck you up, I guarentee that... Fuckin white boy... Fuck you nd your white ancestors, nd all the fuckin white people in the world thats ever said shit about natives, nd has ever hurt our culture nd our beliefs, nd to the white fucks that took everythin from us!!7 FUCK ALL WHITE PEOPLE!! You white son of a bitch piece of shit...
Let me tell you somethin you white piece of shit faggot..... as a full blooded member of isleta pueblo, I find this fuckin rasict for even wearing this head dress.. Even though im not souix, cherrokee, or lakota, I have respect for them... Nd then you white bastards come nd try to use somethin that we have been using for hundreds of years thats a sign of respect to us... Then yoy put it on a white slut thinkin its ok... fuck you white people for sayin that all we do is sit on our asses nd say that all we do is drink, get money, nd get food stamp nd say we should be doin somethin else than this... If you white fucks never took away our land, kill off our people, force us to move out of our land, nd kill our native animals for food, yuh wouldnt be sayin this shit... If I had the chance I would fuckin beat the shit out of yuh for sayin thats all we do... If.it wasnt for your white bitchy ass ancestors, we wouldnt be livin like this... So shut the fuck up nd dont say its not a sighn of disresct until you have lived the way we have... your fuckin lucky I will never meet you or see you in person, because if I did, just as I said, I will beat the fuck outa you nd show you what I could do for sayin this shit... Watch yourself when you are around indians nd start talkin shit bout them, cuz they will fuck you up, I guarentee that... Fuckin white boy... Fuck you nd your white ancestors, nd all the fuckin white people in the world thats ever said shit about natives, nd has ever hurt our culture nd our beliefs, nd to the white fucks that took everythin from us!!7 FUCK ALL WHITE PEOPLE!! You white son of a bitch piece of shit...
Let me tell you somethin you white piece of shit faggot..... as a full blooded member of isleta pueblo, I find this fuckin rasict for even wearing this head dress.. Even though im not souix, cherrokee, or lakota, I have respect for them... Nd then you white bastards come nd try to use somethin that we have been using for hundreds of years thats a sign of respect to us... Then yoy put it on a white slut thinkin its ok... fuck you white people for sayin that all we do is sit on our asses nd say that all we do is drink, get money, nd get food stamp nd say we should be doin somethin else than this... If you white fucks never took away our land, kill off our people, force us to move out of our land, nd kill our native animals for food, yuh wouldnt be sayin this shit... If I had the chance I would fuckin beat the shit out of yuh for sayin thats all we do... If.it wasnt for your white bitchy ass ancestors, we wouldnt be livin like this... So shut the fuck up nd dont say its not a sighn of disresct until you have lived the way we have... your fuckin lucky I will never meet you or see you in person, because if I did, just as I said, I will beat the fuck outa you nd show you what I could do for sayin this shit... Watch yourself when you are around indians nd start talkin shit bout them, cuz they will fuck you up, I guarentee that... Fuckin white boy... Fuck you nd your white ancestors, nd all the fuckin white people in the world thats ever said shit about natives, nd has ever hurt our culture nd our beliefs, nd to the white fucks that took everythin from us!!7 FUCK ALL WHITE PEOPLE!! You white son of a bitch piece of shit...
How disrespectful. Wasn't it enough when you white people stole our land? Now you're stealing our customs and showing them off in a slutty manner? I'm disgusted.
I am Irish-American and I sure hope you stupid Indians don't wear green or display shamrocks. See how stupid this is. Get a life and stop worrying about what others do and worry about what you do. This was not a display of racism or disrespect to your culture but a recognition of your existence and showed a sense of pride in your customs or do you want to chastise all those small children that wear cowboy and Indian outfits every day in America. I'd rather be ignorant than stupid like all those of you that protested so much over something as innocent as what VS did. Someone actually complained about the white man taking your land, REALLY? People take other peoples land and more all the time. Get over it and deal with it already or the white man might start scalping you like the savage animals your ancestors were.