You know how No Doubt has a new album (Push and Shove), their first one in years and years? Well, the band just released their second (I think?) music video from their new album, for the single “Looking Hot”. And the music video is a HOT mess. I should admit that I only watched the video for the first time knowing that it was racially charged and controversial, so I have I don’t really know if I would have watched it without that knowledge and thought that it was okay. Probably not. It’s pretty bad. The music video features… I guess it’s supposed to be like the old Wild West? And Gwen Stefani is like a Native American princess and she’s tied up and singing about how she’s looking hot, and the rest of the dudes in the band are Native Americans or cowboys or something…? As I said, it’s a mess. Here’s the video (I’m including some different versions to see what might get pulled…?):
No Doubt – Looking Hot (Official video) from Flochjan on Vimeo.
So, obviously, the Native American community had some stuff to say. Stuff like “Damn, y’all. RACIST.” Those complaints led to either YouTube pulling the video on its own, or No Doubt asking for the video to be removed. No Doubt also issued a statement about the mess:
“Being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are. As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history. Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people. This is of great concern to us and we are removing the video immediately. The music that inspired us when we started the band, and the community of friends, family, and fans that surrounds us was built upon respect, unity and inclusiveness. We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video.”
[Band statement via Hollywood Life]
So… do you think that the band just did the music video without thinking at any point, “Hey, is this racist? Will this offend Native Americans?” I kind of think that’s exactly what happened. I think a bunch of 40-something rock stars just thought it would be cool and sexy to play “Cowboys & Indians” as adults. Ugh.
Screencaps from the video, additional photos by WENN.
At what point during the creative process do you think “Yeah, this is a really good idea” and just stop there?
You couldn’t come up with anything else?
Totally have to agree here..
I agree too. I thought the video would at least have some kind of political/social message behind it, but as far as I can tell from watching the video, there isn’t one.
Side note, I think No Doubt’s new album is terrible. Bad bad songs. What happened??? They used to be such good song writers :(.
I know…I really, really wanted to like the new stuff. But it’s just…bad.
i must have been sick the day they taught about the platnium blond native americans in elementary school…..
Scott Brown is that you? Sure does remind me of his statement about how you can tell Elizabeth Warren isn’t Native American by looking at her.
Exactly.
Gwen likes a headband, and turned out she digs how she looks in feathers. And so ended the “creative process” that churned out this shit show.
No if you know that your album is a flop and you are desperate for publicity and attention. It’s a stunt.
the song is also a hot mess. maybe should have a waited a few more years.
with today’s political correctness BS, there would never have been John Wayne or the Lone Ranger or blah anything really. People need to chill out. I’m of a Lebanese background and my favorite show is Homeland. Art is often caricature because normal is usually subtle and boring. Deal.
but this song sucks so….maybe back to the drawing board for everything?
Thank god, cuz John Wayne was wack. And Homeland is hardly a good analogy here, particularly since being Lebonese doesn’t actually tell us much about you.
Anyway I’m surprised by the uproar cuz Gwen has been on this tip for years.
Seriously, Gwen Stefani has a long history of appropriating minority culture and fashion. From rocking the SoCal “chola” look in the early days, to the bindi, to the “black” hair/nail styles in that Moby video, to the epic BS of the Harajuku Girls. This isn’t new.
Yeah, GS has been criticized in the past for appropriating cultures, so it seems weird that it didn’t occur to her (them) to self-edit.
Political correctness isn’t always “BS.” Sometimes it just means “considerate of other people’s feelings.” I could actually live in a world without John Wayne and The Lone Ranger, but I think the point is that perceptions of other ethnicities/cultures/genders evolve over time and hopefully improve.
I agree with you. When did people decide to get all sensitive? Half the crap produced/published, even a couple decades back, would not fly today. Each group has people that disrespect them, it’s human nature. Removing it from media does nothing but magnify the issue that people are allowed to be so easily offended. Deal with it and grow up.
People should grow up and get over it? You might be surprised by what the white governments and man have done to the Native Americans. After the genocide attempt, they have lost their land and now live on reservations. The standard of living is sub-human. Charlatans steal their ceremonies, dress, tribe names etc and mass market them to make a bunch of money and look “spiritual”. And people are dumb enough to believe them. Sad.
It’s the same as if the Germans decided to feature lots of Jewish culture and dress/sacred ceremonies in their music videos because they think it’s ‘cool’….as if they can’t remember that their relatives tried to genocide the Jews.
Believe it or not,the Native Americans ARE OFFENDED and I don’t blame them.
“‘Politically correct’ is just a term a**holes came up with so they can dismiss people who have the nerve to want to be respected. Demanding not to be stereotyped is not political correctness, it’s a human right, and you are not some hero for refusing to respect people’s right to be treated like humans.”
– Someone on Tumblr (which is a website that I realize makes Wikipedia look like JSTOR, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good and relevant interpretation)
word m.k.
funny how it is always the people NOT from the minority being appropriated from or stereotyped that don’t have a problem with it. Demanding that your culture – which has in the case faced genocide, and still faces displacement and oppression- be left alone by hipster white folks is not BS. Instead of telling people not to be so sensitive, sit and think for a second what a better world this could be if everyone was a little MORE sensitive. Geez.
” (which is a website that I realize makes Wikipedia look like JSTOR, ”
Hahaha, a+ lol. Would lol again.
It isn’t BS, these images of ‘sexy Native women’ have real life ramifications — sexual violence against Native women is much higher than that against other women (check out the appalling report, Maze of Injustice, from Amnesty International, that documents the violence against Indian women and the ways in which they slip through the cracks of the legal system). According to that report, Native American and Native Alaskan women are 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than women in the US in general. The US Department of Justice estimates that more than 1 in every 3 Native women will be raped in their lifetime, while comparable figures for women in the US as a whole is 1 in every 5. [And, most perpetrators are non-Native – 86%, which is quite different from other groups, where sexual violence is primarily committed within the individual’s own race] (p. 2-4)
Videos like this present images of sexualized Indian women that reinforces this kind of violence and the responses to it from the justice system. Images matter!
Why should I have to “sit down and deal with it”? My native ancestors have been “dealing” with the crap for far too long! And I am not going to brush it off as artistic expression bullshit. Fuck that! I believe we need to be more culturally sensitive towards ALL races. The worst part is when I showed my friend the video and she said ” it’s not that bad” *facepalm* I love gwen but I’m super disappointed in her
It’s basically glamourizing slavery and genocide. Well done!
THIS!
So what? They can glamourise whatever they want to. If you do not like it, do not watch.
You know, “don´t watch” is the lamest thing someone could come up with. How about “be a decent human being, don´t offend people and respect their culture” instead?!?
Have to watch it in order to make the decision that I don’t like it.
Too bad they didn’t pull all of their music, since it’s all bad. Contrived corporate crap.
+ 1,000,000,000
+ infinity to infinity!
Her face looks very altered these days…..
Her face is extremely altered! — But she looks good for now.
I truly enjoy this new album; it’s fun and catchy. I can accept their apologies since they took the video down and seem sincere.
I’m Indian (ahem *Native American*)and I don’t usually get offended by much. So I don’t know if I hate this because it’s No Doubt or for some other, more legit reason.
It just seems sloppy and uninteresting more than offensive.
“Sloppy amd uninteresting” summarize it well. Was that the reason they chose these costumes? to pep it up? Gwen looks truly trashy.
+1, agree “sloppy and uninteresting” is perfect. they were only a half decent socal ska-ish band 15 years ago. at what point do 45 year old men realize eyeliner looks ridiculous. (johnny depp, looking at you buddy)
Yes, totally agree with that phrasing. I know some artists like to play the provacateur, co-opt racially sensitive imagery (eg. Frank Zappa’s Joe’s Garage album cover) and chastise negative reactions as trying to knee-jerk censor strangers and make decisions for other people, but I don’t get the sense that No Doubt is trying to shake up the suburbs with some trenchant battle cry. Gwen likes to play dress-up and I’m sure that if you said ‘Russell Means’ to her, she’d respond, ‘Russell means what?’
I agree with the other posters who suggested that all of this stuff came about because they were looking for a way to re-enter the game with a bang. Kate Bush has released two albums since they released their last one, so you have to remind the people (and aging fan base) that you exist. The critics don’t seem too keen on the new work, so they’re going to take the laziest and quickest form of ‘re-invention’. This kind of images at work here are familiar since Stagecoach and beyond, collective memory of them endure, so maybe the long, long dormant band didn’t catch up to tacky this is? I don’t know. I think this is just more of Gwen being vapid and out of sync when it comes to her cultural referencing. Everything’s ripe for the haphazard taking with her, what can you say?
Does Gwen Stefani know that the last North American residential school closed in 1996? I’m going to guess that she doesn’t, but that’s because she not exactly Oxford bound and lazy in her imaging, I don’t think her ignorance of these things harbours malice. The part that bugs me is that she and company didn’t bother to figure out what the implications of these actions would be before, especially she’s run into this kind of criticism before. So, if the statement is correct in that the band has no desire to hurt people, it’s really time to actually do something about it so they can avoid this publicity stunt–oh–*mess* in the future.
If there can be any kind of cold comfort here, I would say that it’s presented as a fantasy scene with no connection to today’s reality and isn’t being marketed as such. Yes, that’s Inuvik-level cold, but it’s all I’ve got. So while there is rampant and inane cultural appropriation going on here, it’s not framed as a normal day in the life as a means of talking to a specific demographic at its own level for purposes of cynical self-interest by focus-grouping a set of cultural associations down to a set list of selling points to drag outliers out of the periphery and into the will of those doing the dragging.
I’m not trying to argue for ‘who has it worse’, not at all, don’t even want to touch that stuff. I’m saying, that it’s depressing that there are so many lucrative ways for someone to make a represented group look stupid.
I guess I’ll use the example of two commercials I saw recently to clear up my muddy point. Right now, there’s a Pillsbury Crescent Roll advertisement that encourages experimentation and in a black woman (with ‘whoo, girl!’ and everything) fancies up the rolls by adding chicken and barbeque sauce. Let’s not forget the Bounce commercial ‘I Put ‘Em’ lady: fast talkin’ and neck-rollin’ giving her argument extra punch, no, drink…no, grape drink–wait, Kool-Aid, Oh, I’ve got it: food stamps. She gives her argument further food stamps by calling the audience either ‘gurl’ or ‘chile’. She’s so familiar, she IS me, that’s that we’re like, now the Martha’s Vineyard set doesn’t need to be afraid of us since they’re seeing what we’re like.
Thanks. I enjoy hearing (reading) what informed people have to say.
Couldn’t agree more. Gyrating around the bonfire while ND predictably falls into their Ska beats was just about laughable. But watching Stefani limp-run away from her Zoro/drummer/captor really WAS laughable.
Unimpressive in so many, many ways without even getting into the hot button PC topics.
+1
i’m native american (full blooded) and i wear western clothing. i don’t see the big deal
i’m native american (full blooded) and i wear western clothing. i don’t see the big deal.
They are in there 40’s they should have known better.
I’m also Native, and I think it’s more of the fact that they are choosing to treat a culture as a costume. Native Americans are people, we live in the present, and we ask that you respect our past. Yeah, the video isnt the most offensive thing, but it helps to enforce stereotypes that society needs to move away from.
Perhaps Gwen has a thing for thinking cultures are costumes, because she did that whole Harajuku thing a few years ago.
Probably what it is. She’s treats Japan like it’s one giant Visual Kei stage so why not Native Americans? And she had her ‘hood’ phase awhile ago which I gave a side eye at too. The video just screams “Lazy”.
Man, I miss Ska No Doubt. What happened? /sigh. Tragic Kingdom was my jam in 5th grade–PE dancing to Spiderwebs, oh yeah.
MonicaQ, It was my first cd! Tragic Kingdom. I loved No doubt back in the day, but anymore I have to just roll my eyes.
I like how you mentioned Gwen treating the whole Japanese culture like a stage backdrop. I started to dislike her as an artist back when she was doing the whole “Harajuku girls” thing. I thought it was sort of offensive, but it goes to show you that Gwen only thinks about things in sense of it being a fashion statement. She lacks any real substance, just like the rest of them.
http://discotreats.com/what-type-of-harajuku-girl-are-you/
http://discotreats.com/what-type-of-harajuku-girl-are-you/
This is very true. I find it so hard to believe, thinking about all of the people involved in making this video, that they didn’t realize how it was going to come off at ANY point in the process. But yes, no one called her on her caricature of Japanese culture so I guess she just lives in a bubble. And everyone around her lets her do it.
actually, Margaret Cho did call Gwen out about it years ago, and Gwen totally dismissed her, saying “The truth is that I basically was saying how great that culture is. It pisses me off that [Cho] would not do the research and then talk out like that. It’s just so embarrassing for her. The Harajuku Girls is an art project. It’s fun!”
http://faculty.virginia.edu/alexy/courses/fall2011/Japan/blog/files/0fb02cb7f714ae6b9e07ac90c88f418e-4.html
Hey Silver, thanks for posting that article. I love Cho’s rebuttal to Gwen’s response, hilarious! Gwen truly turned into an embarrassment after that phase. If what Cho said is true, about the Harajuku girls not being allowed to speak while on tour to add to the authenticity of that culture, then that is ridiculous. At the end of the day, they were all consenting adults to play a part in Gwen’s misogynist ways, but still..how degrading! I am surprised her apology for this mishap wasn’t “We’re just having fun, do your research!”
I loved Gwen back in the 90’s because I thought she embodied being different and eccentric, but still sexy, but anymore I feel like she became another cheap gimmick, doing anything for the attention and it was no longer about the music, but more about her exploiting countercultures and selling out. Her solo album was $hit, both of them, especially that single, “Wind it up.”
No Doubt sitting around deciding on their video theme…
guy 1: what are we gonna do?
guy 2: dunno
Gwen: I know..we can dress up as indians and I can look really hot in costume. I need a different look!!!
guy 1 & 2: uh ok. That’s genius, Gwen.
Hasn’t this band reached their use-by date? This is seriously a PR stunt. Who cares if No Doubt have made another album??
“cultures as costumes” pretty much hits the spot. This is a less a video reflectng anything about another culture and more a video about singers “dressing up” like when they were kids and didn’t know better. Lame “theme”, lame song too. They really didn’t put much into this as far as effort is concerned.
ya. this video shoot was a stylist’s wet dream!!! someone above said ‘lazy’ and i agree… they’re trying to hijack to Lone Ranger thing. i think she fell in love w/ Johnny’s crow headdress and couldnt let it go. it was a jaw-dropper, i’ll say that much for the video. wow. PS: that red dress is da bomb! hahaaa…
She didn’t even pronounce Harajuku correctly. She pronounced it Hair-a-JOO-koo when it’s Ha-RA-joo-koo.
Smarty as a fellow Native American you hit exactly upon my feelings regarding the issue. She caught flack for some of her other culture as costumes ideas…apparently she didn’t learn anything from those protests…. Or maybe she did. It gets a music video that otherwise may have been overlooked in demand.
Specifically the article states the Harajuku girls weren’t allowed to speak in English. Were they not allowed to speak at all? Like in any language? Or were they required to speak in Japanese? Because that’s slightly different than all out no verbal communication.
Here’s another good read in depth critique of Gwen’s Harajuku women:
http://www.salon.com/2005/04/09/geisha_2/
Politically correct or not, this video shouldn’t exist! It’s simply AWFUL.
They messed up and should have known better. That being said, at least they offered a decent apology and pulled the video. Celebrities seem to have so much trouble offering decent mea culpas.
At the very least least they didn’t pull the “to anyone offended” which is code for, “d’aw, your poor wittle feels” (see: Justin Timberlake) and actually said “sorry”.
This is how you apologize for being offensive.
I thought people were supposed to be ‘free’ in America? All I ever see is people getting censored because someone is supposedly ‘offended’ by their actions. Literally nothing is acceptable to you people anymore. Hows about you CHILL THE EFF OUT and leave people alone. ‘Western’ culture apparently belongs to everyone and that is fine but minorities have sole claim over their own culture? How is that fair? Be grateful that someone is giving you attention. It’s called globalisation and you cannot have it both ways.
Having someone put on one of your culture’s “costumes”, get dragged off, tied up and then writhe around like she is in a porn video – no, I don’t see much freedom in that. Globalization be damned – I’m still offended.
It’s taking everything in me not to say “F^ck you” right now.
I’m going to keep it cute and direct you to this amazing article:
http://grrlyman.tumblr.com/post/33244688283/the-kreayshawn-complex-cultural-appropriation-as
I beg of you, get your mind right.
Thank you for the link, BX! The poem at the end is so powerful and says it all.
Thanks for the article, but the idea of cultural appropriation in relation to hip-hop just made me even more confused about what is and isn’t okay.
The author is Aussie (as am I), and notes that hip-hop in Oz is white-dominated. (I’m not a big hip-hop fan, but that certainly rings true.)
So my problem is this: if I (as a white Aussie) decided to dress up “hip-hop style” I would have had absolutely no idea I was appropriating black culture – my mental image of hip-hop is scrawny white boys with saggy pants.
Is that really so problematic? If you look at it one way, it’s ignorant racism, but on the other hand it’s effectively broadening the existing stereotype. Do blacks get to claim dance music and saggy pants forever? Do they WANT to?
(Again, this is just about BX’s link … saggy pants are on a different level of “culture” than Native American costume. I’m just struggling with understanding where we draw the line. Where can we say “No. You’re not a flipping culture, you’re a costume”?)
Okay Meg, you for some reason don’t “get” why this offensive and I don’t think you want to walk through life with people thinking your a racist asshole, so I’m going to throw you a bone and recommend you head over to the Native Appropriations blog, it explains everything very clearly.
I’m going to sincerely suggest that you look into the meaning of the word “censorship” (and hell, throw in “free speech” and “First Amendment” while you’re at it). The government didn’t tell No Doubt to take down their video. It wasn’t banned by media outlets. Individual, private citizens exercised their OWN free speech rights to say that they thought it was screwed up, and then the band voluntarily took down the video.
It never ceases to blow my mind that every time a topic like this comes up, there is someone who yells censorship while simultaneously telling people they should stop complaining. Free speech applies to the people criticizing the video just as much as the people who made it. Free speech does not mean that you have the right to never be criticized — quite the opposite.
Right?! We took their land from them, gave them small-pox infested lands, made them walk trail after trail of tears, relegated them to small reservations, built casinos on those reservations, and now they won’t let us sloppily appropriate their clothing in an embarrassingly racist way? The nerve!
You’re fat. You go buy groceries in your sweatpants. You are ‘free,’ but never bothered to actually read the constitution. You think that other nations should be grateful because we don’t bomb the crap out of them. Your garage is full with made in China plastic crap.
These are stereotypes of the American white dominant culture, of which you’re part. Now don’t be offended. Or next you’re going to tell me that you only buy domestically produced plastic crap.
It’s a tasteless video and instead of taking themselves seriously, they could have gone the Erasure way and make it uber-cracky so no one would have been offended:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1zepe_erasure-who-needs-love-like-that_music
Again? Apparently she never learned from the bindi and Harajuku-“mute” girls controversies.
I have always loved Gwen’s voice and No Doubt, but these LYRICS (never mind the video) are painfully desperate and unoriginal. I’m 40-something. Look at me. I’m hot, right? Still hot? C’mon Gwen, give us something meatier.
People complain about anything these days. Seriously.
I dressed up as the same thing when I was a kid. OMG I’m racist!! I was a racist 5 year old!
Jesus, give it a rest.
People flip out about Native American Halloween costumes now.
Rightly so!
http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.de/2012/10/so-you-wanna-be-indian-for-halloween.html
You dressed up as an Indian maiden for Halloween when you were a kid? Wow! Did you go all sexy captive and gyrate on doorsteps to earn your candy too?
Actually, no, not a maiden. Just a plain ole’ Chief.
But I appreciate your snarky comment.
Katyusha, she was just saying that it’s not the same thing – dressing up as a 5yo for halloween clearly isn’t as blatantly offensive as this MV
I don’t know about any political stuff with this, but it was bloody awful!
So, so far Gwen has ripped off Indian, Latino, Japanese, and now Native American culture. Am I forgetting any? Look, I love Gwen despite all this, but that video is a tacky mess. I’m wondering if it was purposely done to create a stir, cuz their return after a decade has been pretty lackluster so far. When I heard Settle Down, I was underwhelmed and didn’t buy the album, and the reviews I’ve read have been only average. As a fan, I’m willing to admit that they’re officially a nostalgia band at this point, and that anyone going to shows now wants to hear the hits, not the new album. No shame in that – U2 is also a nostalgia band, and a damn successful one at that. So are the Stones. Oh well. I will continue to love ND. By the way, Gwen’s angry botox eyebrows look ridiculous.
+1 But I actually enjoyed her solo attempt.
AS a native person I don’t find this offensive in the least – I find it rather cheeze and commical.
Gwen looked like she is 28! but I truly think their apologies is sincere and I do not see the big deal!!!
I think it was a dumb move but, as others have said, the sincerity and tact of their apology is not something you see every day. Well done facing the music for their dumb decision with this video. They certainly deserve some forgiveness.
I basically agree. I would have liked for them to explain what they were going for in this video, though. I admit, I rarely if ever watch music videos so I don’t know, but this had absolutely nothing to do with the song – did it? So, why?
It sounds a lot like Madonna’s songs of late. Just needs more techno sound. Yeah, I’m not digging this album or the radio singles off of it. Albeit catchy, just “short-lived” entertainment, nothing lasting.
Okay, Native American here…I watched the video ready to tell you all you were making a big deal over nothing–which often happens where Natives are referenced. I think often times other groups are more offended than actual Native Americans over most of the controversies. That said–what the hell did I just watch?? This bitch acting like she’s being drug around and strung up. Do they know that things like this really happened? How disrespectful can you be? And side note, I’ve never seen anyone look more uncomfortable or unnatural riding a horse. I’ve been on the fence about Gwen for awhile, thanks for helping decide which side to come down on.
To be honest, this seems to be a publicity stunt to get people to listen to their new single; controversy tends to up views and whatnot.
Otherwise, a lot of people, me included, wouldn’t have even looked at it.
This x 400,000,000,000!
I find it interesting that some comments on this story seem to be saying that it is okay to be offensive – ’cause, you know, freedom and all – but not okay to be offended. What? Freedom only works in one direction?
Great point.
gwen stefani is such an asshole. who makes a video and a song like that?? could her ego be any larger or more obnoxious? i don’t really think she’s being clever or ironic at all here…
I’m just offended by her so called ‘talent.’ Give it up already…,
The video and song are both terrible. WTF happened, No Doubt?
Okay, they’re just too old for this. In the first picture they all look middle aged, which they should because they are. They just look silly trying to look like they did 20 years ago. Give it up.
I disagree, Gwen looks fabulous and better than most 25 years old!
Quick question to satisfy my curiosity-
One of my closest friends is really getting into the chola type makeup/attitude/outfits. She’s a white girl, with no heritage or background of that kind. Would this be considered by you guys heritage theft as well? (Obviously not nearly on the same level as Gwen). I’m just wondering if its considered wrong to wear and act like that culture if you aren’t born to it. I personally have no opinion, just curious to see what everyone else has to say.
I lived in New Mexico for a few years where the Chola look is huge. I think the Chola style is more of a look and lifestyle then it is a part of American History, no Chola walked the trail of tears or was slaughtered for land.
Back to the Chola or Cholo, unfortunately that’s a big part of the machismo culture in the west. The girls sport thin, sharpie brows, dark makeup and big hair. The men will wear hair nets with their hair gelled back and white tank tops with low riding pants. In Albuquerque you would see this all the time, even non Hispanics would sport this look. I wouldn’t consider it offensive for a non Hispanic person to do this considering it’s not a part of the US’s dark history and it’s just a style, not a reference to a historical y dark period in time.
I think this is the result of Americans not knowing their own history.
It’s not “Native American history” or “African American history”, it’s AMERICAN history which include black, white and native americans. Your history is intertwined and it’s a damn shame that a lot of Americans don’t know their history.
NA were shot down like dogs, stripped off their land and culture,forced to assimilate to ‘white’ culture.
Many Americans, today’s natives included, do not know their own history.
Education, education, education – So very important.
Why do these musicians do this crap? She has enough money to have have consulted with every nation on the planet BEFOREHAND.
If she wants to redeem herself she should do a video with a Native singer and staff it with real Native folk…if she’s so serious about her “process”. Call Canyon Records No Doubt and sort yourselves out.
jeez.
Considering most of the *native americans* on here seem to agree it’s a big hullabaloo over nothing and not much to be offended over, WHO exactly has their knickers in a twist over this? Perhaps people (of all races) with a massive chip on their shoulder who just love to be over-sensitive for the sake of a good argument and moaning battle?
Since you asked. I am offended, I am a First Nations woman who has fought racism and marginalization of Aboriginal people for decades. I find it offensive a woman would allow herself to be presented as a victim for entertainment purposes when we have so many missing and murdered Aboriginal women. If No Doubt consulted groups on whether or not the material was offensive perhaps someone knowledgable would have informed them beaded head bands are a Hollywood creation to fasten the wigs to the heads of actors portraying “Indians” in the old cowboy and western movies. Saying it doesn’t bother someone doesn’t make it right, racism is racism even if it’s presented in a pretty blonde package. I am not over sensitive, but it is frustrating to hear terms such as “off the reservation” or the offensive term “squaw” why would it be so difficult for you to understand misappropriating my culture is offensive.
Knowledge has been officially dropped.
Oh I see, you have to actually be a part of the culture/ethnic group in order to be offended. *sarcasm*
why always culture stealing, is she too bored being a white girl??? wtv that song is facking awful..
she looks good though!
I don’t think the video would have received even a 1/4 of the attention if not for this controversy, that song is horrible, just horrible. Actually their first song did too, what happened, their new music is awful now. Not catchy at all, just awful and Gwen’s singing sounds so nasally now, like she had a cold when she sang this song. NO DOUBT this album is a fail.
Why are they pretending to be a real band when the instruments on the track are all programmed? NOW I’M OFFENDED.
First, i don’t want to enter the whole complex endless debate of PC.
Second, why did the best bands of the 60s/70s succeed without Music Videos; because they had actual talent;
Third, how many of today’s so-called “bands” would even be around without wrap around marketing and vids – I’ll take Jimi, James Brown, Zepellin, T-Rex, etc. over marginally talented acts like No Doubt – there is still good music out there totally ignored (my son turned me on to a band called Dead Meadow skater punks like this band also check out Tame Impala), but No Doubt isn’t one of those bands.
Re : “Second”. So true. The Guess Who (a ’70’s rock band-super group) appeared at the Grey Cup halftime show (Canadian Super Bowl basically) a few years ago. They played live and sounded great – exactly the same as on their records. No auto tune, no nothing back then. But they had tons of talent and that’s what made them famous. Great song writing too. Sigh.
So true. It seems image supersedes musical talent by far in terms of what sells mainstream music.
Meanwhile, all those dudes in the band look like freaking Nosferatu. Criminy, there is such a thing as being too old to pull off a look.
A bleach blond Native American princess. That’s funny.
omfg seriously when did people slide back in the politically correct bullshit of the 90’s?
I will not be a politically correct person because those people are WAY over sensitive, for the sake of being sensitive, and really fake ones at that.
You know what this argument reminds me of. When I was 12 my mum died so throughout my teenage yrs, & even now, I had to hear my friends complain about things that to me wasn’t a big deal but I never once told them to shut the hell up cos I respected that to them what they were going through meant something. What you are essentially doing is telling a massive group of people to sit down & shut up & why? Because you don’t see the big deal. Lord forbid you should ever have a complaint
You know what this argument reminds me of. When I was 12 my mum died so throughout my teenage yrs, & even now, I had to hear my friends complain about things that to me wasn’t a big deal but I never once told them to just shut up cos I respected that to them what they were going through meant something. What you are essentially doing is telling a massive group of people to sit down & shut up & why? Because you don’t see the big deal. Lord forbid you should ever have a complaint
I didn’t watch the video so maybe that would help…BUT…I (a Caucasian) would not have thought it was offensive to dress up as a Native American. Who dressed up for Halloween as a NA? Anyway I was surprised to see people so pissed about it. In kindergarten my daughter’s class dressed up as either a NA or a pilgrim. What’s the big deal? Like I said, maybe I should watch the video, maybe there was more to it than a look. I dressed up as a Geisha one year for Halloween? Is that inappropriate? These are serious questions. I’m not trying to be an ass. I’m a white person married to a black man and we have children. I don’t pretend this makes me more aware of what it’s like to be a minority, it doesn’t. But I hate racism of any kind and thought of myself as someone who wouldn’t do anything deemed racist. But maybe I’m being ignorant about certain things. My college roommate and close friend is NA, I’m going to ask her what she thinks.
MG I for one appreciate the fact that you are at least attempting to learn if this issue is insensitive. My opinion, I do not think cultural appropriation is ever okay. I would never dress up as Native American, Geisha, or anything that relates/invokes any part of another person’s heritage, culture, etc. I don’t think it’s makes one inherently racist, but it does make the person(s)in my opinion extremely out of touch, insensitive, and uneducated to walk around dressed up as another culture because you think it’s fashionable, cute, funny, etc., especially when there is a sad history behind the culture. Think of it this way, no one (in their right mind) would dress up a like a black slave for Halloween because they know the horrible history and the pain behind it. So why would it be okay for a person to dress up like Native American when that part of American history is beyond painful? Millions slaughtered for land, tribes entirely wiped out, women raped, children abused, you could go on and on. Why dress up like a geisha when SOME of them were sold to geisha houses at an extremely young age and later used and abused by men and sold for sexual services? Do you understand now? And if I seem like I’m being a smart a**, I’m truly not, I just get upset that people don’t use common sense. And again, I appreciate the fact that you are at least taking the initiative to understand instead of saying stupid sh** like freedom of expression, people are being too PC etc…
Okay, serious answers:
1) Yes, it’s offensive to dress up as a culture as though the only thing of note about them is a costume they wear (a highly stereotypical and inauthentic version, at that!). I know that it can seem like people are making a big deal over nothing, but think about it – when NAs dress up in headdresses and other ceremonial gear, it has deep and significant meaning for them. It’s disrespectful and rude to appropriate that costume as though it’s just meaningless fancy dress.
2) Yes, it’s offensive to dress up as a geisha, given the layers and layers of history associated with that culture. It’s basically glamourising a sex work industry that demeans, degrades and marginalises the women who work in it. (I’m pro-sex work as long as the women doing it are empowered and protected from harm, but traditional Japanese geisha culture is…not that.)
I used to think it was ridiculous how mad people got about this stuff as well (I’m not white but not all that many people dress up as my culture for Hallowe’en). But then I started talking to people whose cultures were being appropriated and hearing their stories, and I realised what a big deal it is and how seriously it should be taken. I read some great articles about how to buy/wear Native clothing items in a respectful and appropriate way that really helped.
Anyway, just my two cents.
Campy, to say the least…and then she has a Massai choker on..probably the ONLY authentic thing she wears in the whole video
If this silly video offends you so much, your life must be pretty easy.
Relax. Nobody ows you fuzzy feelings.
PS John Wayne rocks.
Wow, just wow. People on here talk about sensitivity, and political correctness; okay let me put it like this: If this was a music video about glamorizing Nazi holocaust victims and concentration camp prisoners – would you all say that was acceptable? I don’t think so.
It has nothing to do with sensitivity it has everything to do with RESPECTING the victims, and conscience. You can’t ask ANY people who have had to endure genocide to digest something like this, you simply cannot. Otherwise, you open a door to utter insanity. Rowanda will suddenly be Beyonce slaughtering slightly darker black people looking all sexy about it and name that video ” mother nature” You’ll have artists jumping off of mock twin towers singing as they plunge to their figurative deaths as others get burned alive and that song be called “Rapture” or something or other – no just no. You DON’T do that and it’s astounding that so many people have become so pathologically cruel that they would find nothing wrong with this concept.
I have a bigger problem with the song than with the video. It sounds like another crappy David Guetta dance track and the lyrics are moronic.
Ok–I haven’t posted here in sometime. I just don’t understand this crap at all. I was out on Halloween and saw slutty indians, slutty nurses, slutty nuns, slutty school teachers, slutty harajuku girls, for god’s sake I went as a pervert priest or as I liked to call the costume..a preist. Why is it that no one is protesting outside the costume stores that sell these costumes? It’s only when they feel that they can get some press over it that they open their big ole pie holes. Let it go already. And it’s a crappy music video that would have gone unnoticed had the offended brigade not mentioned it. No Doubt is getting excellent press from this. They should send a muffin basket to Native American Offended Peoples Comittee.
I just saw a photo of her taken November 5, 2012 (today). She is wearing a camouflage jump suit (like the U.S. Military does – and whom killed the Indians to start with) and (blood)red army boots.
That’s a trip in light of the Native American exploitation video that was pulled yesterday.
I’m still waiting for an apology for their “It’s My Life” cover.
Why are people so lazy? Crack open a book sometime and read about American history to understand why this is offensive, sheesh.
So if they consulted experts at the University, does that mean they are implying that it is historically correct? That is something totally different than people today being offended because they reenacted something and someone’s immature attitude was hurt. I found the subject to be completely out of place in context to the song. Not a good fit to say the least.
Not Native American so can’t fairly judge as to what I should find the most offensive (and I do find it ALL offensive) but the thing I dislike the most is the crap quality — get a costume consultant, get a cultural consultant — thought that band had $$?? It’s like they put on a bad neighborhood kid play. Gwen in particular looks like a flaming fool — what, she’s a blond sexpot “Native American” wearing a Berber headdress (?!) pretending she’s being tied up for love or S & M or so we can all drool over her or something? Does she even read? Does she even HAVE any women friends (let alone of other ethnic backgrounds)? I’m glad others pointed out that she’s done this cultural “borrowing” in bad taste before — not a first-time offender.
Song is boring. Video is boring too.
I watched it 3 times. First was when it came out. And then few times more when I read those complains. And I tried to understand what so scandalous was there, what so terrible and unforgiving that they had to apologize and to put it down….
Maybe because I’m not american. What was so terribly wrong with it? I see adult people dress up as indiands and cowboys like it is Halloween and dance and making fun of themselves. How is this so offensive? To whom? There was a comedy about Hitler recently, there was some comedy sketch where Gabourey Sidibe was playing black Hitler and laughing and making fun of war that took lives of millions. I guess that was offensive to victims too. Somehow there were no protests and everybody laughed.
How come when No Doubt dressed up as indians and danced and somehow there is big racist scandal out of nowhere? Americans are taking too far with all that tolerance stuff. These days everybody are so right and shiny good that they will label people racist and then bully them for every small reason they can create in their minds…
I really don’t understand what is so offensive there. They joke about Hitler this is ok. People dress up as indians and cowboys and this is horrible racism now?
People and celebrities are probably afraid to say something now. They never know. They will say something in interview and then somebody will decide that this is racism or they hate afro-americans or gays or fat people and will call them out and will bully them in press…. This is really ridiculous.
I can’t feel sorry for Native Americans somehow. Every time I see movie or tv show where they show how Native Americans sold their land for Casinos or their bosses let Casinos on their land because there are no taxes there… And then they hate every person that is not Native American in those shows. Like police man who investigates crime or other people. And are like: “Oh you evil white people. You stole our lands 500 years ago. You are racist. You hate us. We hate you more”…. They always portray Native Americans in movies like some always angry, greedy, hateful people, who sold their lands and themselves to rich Casinos. Is it really like that? The most recent was A Martinez’s character on Longmire.
Wow “Shy”, you are ignorant. Are you seriously judging Native Americans (who consist of millions of people many different cultures) off the stereotypical portrayals in movies?
That’s exactly what this is about; the marginalization of millions of people as either “extinct” or some sort of deplorable one sided stereotype.
My niece is half-Native American & has an obviously Native last name (example Yellowhorse) and when people find out her last night they ask rude questions like she isn’t just a person or an American; all of a sudden she is asked questions about race and ancestry that white kids aren’t asked.
When it comes to the stereotype of Natives “hating” white people it’s just that: a stereotype. Things kind of images are offensive because it forces Natives back into this myth territory; as if they don’t exist in 2012.
And if some foreign race took over the entirety of Europe in the 1400’s I guarantee you some of the descendants of the original Europeans would still be sore about it.
Um, I believe your last paragraph sums up nicely why Native Americans have every reason to be sensitive whenever a white person portrays them, since apparently they don’t do a very good job of it and it is very one sided (in favor of the white people who have a history of genocide against Native Americans).
If you seriously cannot tell the difference between the appropriation of cultures that have been subject to genocide, and making jokes about Hitler, then I have no idea why you’re engaging in this discussion.
I have second-hand embarrassment right now.
I couldn’t watch the video b/c it is already withdrawn but her apology sounded sincere and like a real apology. The only thing I raised an eyebrow at is when she stated she conferred with Native American experts about whether it was offensive, but I couldn’t watch the video so I can’t give an opinion on whether they may have a point or not.
Why should I ” sit down and deal with it”? My native ancestors have been “dealing” with it for far too long. I really loved Gwen but she’s making it hard to like her. The worst part is when I showed my friend the video she said “it’s not that bad”. *facepalm*
And hey, you dont like natives being so SENSITIVE about everything?? THEN GET OFF OUR LAND.
SOME of you in this post exude nothing more than white privilege and/or extreme ignorance. I don’t care if you are Native American or not. It’s never okay for ANYONE to appropriate a culture for the sake of being cute, edgy, funny, etc. Have we really gotten so out of touch with HISTORY to not to be able to see why people from ANY background would be offended? I hate to freaking quote Bill Maher, but the hit the nail on the head when he said “the new racism is denying racism”. Relying on “stop being so PC” “it’s freedom of expression” “I dressed up like such and such when I was 5, get over it” is why the ignorance persists throughout this nation and around the world! If you are one of those people that relied on one of those phrases for your argument, crack open a dictionary and look up cultural appropriation. Gwen has been pulling this sh** for years and people HAVE COMPLAINED and she blew it off repeatedly. It’s all over the place now because they PULLED THE VIDEO, whereas before they ignored the complaints.
She’s on the cover of Marie Claire look at the side bar description of her; Someone must have been stoned or paid a lot to make that crap up;
The fundamental problem is NO Doubt has almost no talent – can anyone imagine Led Zeppelin back in the day resorting to this stupidity – Oh, that’s right they had talent;this PC debate is certainly interesting but beside the point – in the long run nothing compensates for lack of talent.
As part of my degree in Ecological Restoration here in BC Canada we are are going to take a class on Aboriginal peoples, as we will be working along side many bands in a joint effort for the environment. And so I found this post fascinating to read everyones comments. I myself am white with Polish heritage with family members that were in camps in WWII. Anyways…. lol long comment. I just wanted to say thanks for everyones comments, opened my eyes