Uh-oh. Heidi Klum has gotten herself into a whole mess of controversy with a new shoot theme for Germany’s Next Top Model. Sometimes I do forget that she’s not only a supermodel but also a successful television personality. What with her falling in and out of bed with “the help.”
This story isn’t about Heidi’s personal life but about a set of photos that Heidi has proudly uploaded to her Facebook page. The set features Heidi’s contestants in Native American-inspired garb and settings. Some of the models are wearing face paint. Others wear war bonnets and pose next to teepees. The comments on Heidi’s Facebook aren’t receptive to the “redface” theme at all. Here are some reactions in bulletpoint form:
* “Not only do I find these photos sickening and infuriating, but I feel the ignorance of the followers of Heidi Klum are taking our progress away from discrimination and stereotypes many steps backwards.”
* “Disappointing. Cultural appropriation and redface are never okay.”
* “My culture is not your f—ing fashion trend!!”
* “As a Native American woman, I am disgusted. It’s not an ‘honor,’ it’s a disgrace.”
* “War bonnets are not for women, and certainly not a white, German woman.”
* “Excuse me Ms Klum but where did u get the idea that this was exceptable! What you are doing is a mockery of the Native American culture and it’s beyond insulting. I urge you to educate yourself to know what you are wearing is not a costume but a head dress that symbolizes sacredness, I’m sorry but you have NOT earned the right to wear those feathers.”
[From Heidi Klum on Facebook]
Yeah, this shoot was a bad idea. Heidi can’t really claim that she wasn’t aware of the potential issues with “redface” since she lives in the United States. I live in the Eastern part of Oklahoma. People here are very aware of the misappropriation of Native American culture. I suspect most US residents are aware of the controversy. Heidi’s team could have come up with a shoot theme that didn’t involve stomping all over a culture.
Here are some of the photos from the GNTM shoot. Are people being too sensitive, or are these photos offensive?
Photos courtesy of Heidi Klum on Facebook & WENN
They are offensive, just like the name “Redskins” is offensive. Anyone involved with this shoot ought to have known better.
oh come on! it was for GERMANY’S next top model. nobody in germany ever associates this stuff with being racist or whatever. it is not an issue there. kids dress up as cowboys and native american characters, just as they dress up as princesses, ballerinas, police officers, vampires, whatever. i will bet all i have that none of these people even KNOW that this is an issue in the usa. ‘redface’ is not a term that is widely known in europe, nor does it have any significance. there are a lot of problems in germany but native americans are not one of them.
the shoot is not good though, i don’t like the photos, i don’t like heidi or any of her tv shows in the least, but come on, THIS is nothing to go upset about.
So because nobody in Germany knows that this is racist means…that it’s okay? I’m not American and I know it’s racist, just like I know that blackface is racist even though I’m not black.
Someone like Heidi Klum – who has lived and worked in the USA and all over the world – should have known better. End of story.
So if people in Europe don’t know what blackface is and it’s totally not a big deal there, does it mean that blackface is appropriate?
Just because something doesn’t mean anything to YOU, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hold great significance for another cultural or racial group. Please understand that this sort of dismissive attitude towards other people’s culture and beliefs is ignorant and disrespectful.
Princesses, ballerinas, police officers, vampires are not cultures though. Even if someone isn’t aware of the history, shouldn’t the general idea of using a culture, any culture, for something frivolous be basic enough to at least give pause? And this is a professional setting, not kids dressing up to play.
Germany doesn’t understand racism? Didn’t you guys have Hitler?
Taking the false premise that because she’s German, she’s unaware of the offensive nature of this photo shoot, does she not have an obligation to research and understand the significance of the traditional Native American dress that she essentially exploits here?
I mean isn’t that pretty effin’ basic?
and what exactly is the problem? do native americans feel like these girls are taking away their culture? does it mean they are not allowed to live the way they want? does it mean these girls think native americans are “funny” and will laugh at them when they ever meet one? no, i don’t think so. these feathers and clothes were not taken away from anybody, heidi didn’t invade anybody’s home or anything.
it is just like the maori tattoos that almost everybody who comes to new zealand gets. they have a very long history and strong meaning for the maoris, but just because some tourist who has no idea about it decides to get them does not mean the culture or the history is about to get lost. this is getting so out of hand, and i don’t understand it. whenever anybody touches anything from any other culutre, it is labeled racist and insensitive.
so i can’t wear a sari if i want to, just beause i’m not indian? i can not wear a kimono cause i’m not japanese? I can’t wear dirndl cause i’m not german? wow, what a very very narrow perspective in life. I always thought and still think that cultural exchange is the base of respect. and if everybody screams “racism” anytime someone borrows something from another culture, the result is that everyone should always stick to where they grow up and stick to themselves? that is just wrong. there are situations that are worth worrying about. this is just really not one of them.
…like talking to a damn wall.
Since it’s not getting through, I’ll distill it down to the simplest sentence I can to summarize it:
If you’re exploiting something of meaningful cultural significance in the name of commercialism, it is offensive.
Europeans are actually very hip to native rights issues. They know this isn’t appropriate. I have friends in the native entertainment circuit, teaching about appropriations is something they always include. There are so many pro indigenous and anti colonization groups in France and Germany. The concept doesn’t allude them, just hiedi klum.
I completely see where blubb is coming from and think she articulated her points very effectively. This is one area of racial sensitivity that I just don’t understand.
@ blubb
The Native American population strongly disagrees with you. They would like to stop seeing themselves constantly depicted as crass and racist stereotypes. How in the world is a bunch of “pouty, half-naked white women posing ever-so seductively in war paint and headdresses” demonstrating ‘cultural respect’?
Here is a great idea! For Klum’s next shoot she can have her sultry German girls posing in super sexed up US WWII military uniforms, complete with purple hearts and other medals of honor, on the beaches of Normandy. At least one of the shots should have an Aryan looking girl pose looking just f-ed on a beach towel made from the American flag. Even better if she looks deep into the camera while saluting. Some of the girls should be holding bibles with reverence. Americans should be down right honored by the depiction!
I agree with you, that germans are probably not so aware of the issue of native americans. Actually, we have a lot more history to be aware of than america has to offer 😛
Do you know that the comic asterix is more popular in europe than in the us because we europeans have experienced how it is to be invaded by other cultures, and being oppressed? In the us they prefer comics with super heroes who fight alone. Asterix on the contrary, fights with his tribe.
I think it is a nice example of how history affects our perceptions. Maybe germans are more relaxed in this issue about native americans but more aware of others. We germans carry huge because of WWII, lets not forget that. We had problems with our identity, with saying we are proud to be germans, hissing a german flag…
So, is this something an american can relate to? I dont think so.
People on Europe should definitely know that there’s something bad in the water here. One word: smallpox. Don’t drink the water.
It’s a good thing that Europe never went on to oppress other cultures then, huh.
We’ve heard of Asterisk, Vercingetorix, Boudicca and so on. I’m not going to say that I’m an expert on everything that ever happened in all of history, but I can’t be the only person who had to crack open a book that wasn’t all about my own country, can I?
DOUBLE POST ALERT, SORRY
People on Europe should definitely know that there’s something bad in the water here. One word: smallpox. Don’t drink the water.
It’s a good thing that Europe never went on to oppress other cultures then, huh? And what if that were the only side of Europeans that we saw? What If the only image we were shown of an entire continent and all ofbrhe people in it were ‘slave trade, Nazis, the end’? Pretty reductive, no? But this is all that’s presented of Native Americans, of some ‘noble savages’ bull from a time and galaxy far, far away and gone extinct? But it’s not extinct, there are real people out there who see their cultures, plural, presented as this one thing that caters to what other people want to see rather than what is. Why didn’t the shoot include some scalping why we’re at it?
We’ve heard of Asterisk, Vercingetorix, Boudicca and so on. I’m not going to say that I’m an expert on everything that ever happened in all of history, but I can’t be the only person who had to crack open a book that wasn’t all about my own country, can I?
This is soooooo not the first time that we have have been asked to stop doing this and we have been told myriad times why it isn’t okay to do this. But then people get all huffy when they don’t have the freedom to insult, because apparently fashion trumps respect and considering others is a huge burden. I don’t know why it is so important for ego to disregard people’s feelings and then play hurt because those people had the audacity to claim their own histories and cultures rather than indulge people’s headdress fetish.
This is real for people and they aren’t to be classed with leprechauns and vampires and to the people who wear these costumes, they get to have all sorts of amenities when they take it off. There aren’t amenities granted to people for whom this isn’t makeup.
Of course we do. The history of the US is mandatory in the german school system and, depending on the school, the history of Native Americans is a crucial part of that and discussed in length. Some might say we know more about it than the average US american high school student.
Please don’t go around blaming the “german ignorance” for this. This is pure Heidi and her team and her actions are in no way speaking for all of us. I think she was fully aware of the promblems this shoot will cause and still went for it. She’s a business woman, a smart one at that (can’t stand the woman, but one has to acknowledge that…), and the show is failing. Miserably.
She’d do anything to promote it and stir up some PR. And yes, the whole thing will not lead to endless discussions in Germany and she knows it.
That doesn’t mean we do not notice and/or understand the controversy and the hurt feelings behind this.
“If you’re exploiting something of meaningful cultural significance in the name of commercialism, it is offensive.”
Well summarized!
I gotta say, I’m with Blubb. I just don’t get our country anymore. Everything anybody does is apparently offensive somewhere, somehow. There was no mocking in these pictures and in no way was the American Indian culture being made fun of. What are people mad about? When a child wears an Indian costume, there is absolutely no disrespect intended. That kid is simply using their imagination and dressing as something they want to be. Are we really supposed to be mad about that? Apparently you can’t do anything anymore without there being some racist undertones and people are ridiculously sensitive. Example: I think Kim Kardashian is vapid trash. What Society Hears: “You hate Kim because she is not white and has curves.” Seriously people, lets get angry about things that deserve our anger, but this?? It’s a stupid show about young girls wanting to be models. Yawn.
It’s as offensive as human skin used for lamps during the holocaust. The native culture was murdered by european invaders, and now europeans are adorning themselves in native costume? That’s particularly degrading, and Europeans get very snooty when Americans don’t have a grasp on history; for a German woman to have no sensitivity to mass slaughter of a culture is appalling and inexcusable.
@Blubb Tā moko are considered to be taonga in the Māori culture – they are a treasure, and the process around them is tapu/sacred. Due to appropriation of the designs, Kirituhi is now used to refer to a more generalised “Māori” style tattoo. Appropriation of Tā moko is rather controversial, I’m now living in Europe and 90% of the Kirituhi I see has been done on English lads on holiday in Indonesia. Appropriation is appropriation.
Disgusting and crazy. Cultual appropriation is disgusting. The strange Native American fetish in a certain segment of German society is crazy. Bat$hit crazy.
When Selena Gomez, Khloe Kardashine etc wore a bindi, why wasn’t there any outrage?
@Eleanor Zissou: There was plenty of outrage when that happened too.
Absolutely. As a German I must agree with CTgirl. Unfortunately this insanity has been going on for over a hundred years (thanks, Karl May), and it doesn’t look like it’s going to go the way of all flesh.
Katy Perry as an Egyptian ( using an Islam symbol as grills), Rihanna as a geisha, Minimum outrage. I don’t get it.
Um, which segment? I’ve never encountered that. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist of course but it is NOT widespread by any means.
I have no opinion on this shoot other than … the show stinks and they should’ve known better. But nobody freaked out when 12 million Germans stormed the cinemas to see “Der Schuh des Manitu”. How was THAT not more offensive than this? And let me add, I love that movie but I know very well that it wouldn’t happen in the U.S. I guess nobody in the States pays attention to German cinema but they do pay attention to whatever this woman burps out on her show.
I’m wondering why no one gave Tyra Banks any shit about this sort of thing when she did something similar on ANTM. She had White models in Black face to appear Black and Bi-racial, she also had Black models in White face to appear White. She did Native American but she just darken the girl face. She also had White and Black models face painted and contoured to look Asian. They were dressed as the particular culture they were representing.
It seems a Black person can do these sort of things and get away with it but if a White person does it, it’s automatically offensive or racist. Yes people are much too sensitive. Tyra even did an episode where she had the models dressed as Geishas and Harajuku Girls
Yup, people who experience racial discrimination indeed do have a lot more right to do and say these kind of things! You know why? Not hard to understand if you look beyond your own privilege and actually think about other people. It’s because people of color actually experience racism and have the right to confront that force as they see fit. Unlike white people, who benefit from racism, and thus are confronting nothing when they use racism for fun, only perpetuating racism! I know it’s really hard for some people to understand. Sad.
I’m embarrassed to say I remember seeing that V4. She did that kind of stuff quite often. (I’m embarrassed because I just admitted to watching that crap, but on Sundays when there’s nothing else on…)
@Kenny Boy.. it doesn’t make it right/okay simply because Tyra is black, that’s a lame ass excuse. If anything Tyra should shy away from it since she may have experienced some herself and understands what it feels like.
@Kenny Boy … First for the record I am Black. So I understand fully. Second, Tyra was not the one who was dressed in face paint or the clothing therefore, she wasn’t confronting any forces. It was the models who were White and Black that she had dressing as particular cultures.
Lame lame lame ass excuse indeed Blue Marie.
LOL. Kenny, what “confronting forces” was Tyra and her models doing? They weren’t making any statements, they were literally doing the exact same thing that Heidi and her models have done here.
She did that? I’m glad I never watched the show.
People did give Tyra sh-t for that I wasn’t on this blog back then so I don’t know what happened her but it was all over the internet and new so much so Tyra had a segment about it on her talk show.
@ Candy Love if theyg gave Tyra so much shit about it, why did she continue to do it? There were various seasons and episodes where she had models dressing as different races and ethnicities. People tend to shy away from certain things once it has been deemed offensive but Tyra didn’t. So either she didn’t give a shit or she wasn’t given much shit about it.
@V4Real, black people from that time period didn’t paint their faces white and surely didn’t pretend to be a white stereotype. But white people put black paint on their faces and pretended to be black people. Never black doctors or lawyers, but lazy, trifling blacks. Childlike, dumb and stupid. Julianne Hough didn’t paint her face black and pretend to be Michelle Obama. She did it to look like a fictional CRIMINAL. So don’t get it twisted.
And when Tyra did it, she also got flack for it. From it being called, stupid, dumb, offensive and just plain wrong. Tyra didn’t change, because she’s TYRA! The same person who eliminated a girl because she didn’t want to wear a fake butt.
As for the photos, I don’t have a problem with them. They aren’t that big a deal, IMO. But if Native American finds them troubling, I’d have to go with their assessment, because THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN ME. Is that too hard to grasp? If the people OF that culture have an issue, then other people should stop. We shouldn’t then, go, ‘oh, that’s not as bad as this’ or ‘why didn’t you have an issue with that, but you have an issue with this’. Such a stupid argument.
I’m Germany and I know plenty of people that know about this issue. And Heidi got criticized a lot for this photoshoot. By Germans.
oh my, where did that ‘y’ come from? 😀
I am Austrian, and while I admit that I certainly spend a lot of time on US websites, and may therefore be more exposed to the ongoing discussions concerning ‘blackface’ and ‘redface’ in the States than the average Austrian, I don’t think that people in Austria, or Germany, or Europe altogether, have any excuse to be oblivious to racism.
As Valois said, enough people do know about the issue, and US resident Heidi Klum certainly does.
Also, there is a further difference between being insensitive about dressing up your toddler in a Native American costume for Mardi Gras, as it is still common over here, and putting a white model in a Native American headgear that has a SACRED meaning to Native Americans. That is deeply disrespectful, period.
“It’s now very common to hear people say ‘I’m rather offended by that.’ As if it gives them certain rights; it’s actually nothing more… It’s simply a whine. It’s no more than a whine. ‘I find that offensive,’ it has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. ‘I am offended by that,’ well so fcuking what?”
If its so insignificant, and anyone who is offended anywhere is just whining, I see no reason for you to get upset enough about it to comment or swear. do you have a list somewhere of OK topics to complain about? I just want to double check if its OK to whine about people whining, since the whining itself is not OK.
Your hypocrisy aside, calling this “whining”says more about you than about the First Nations people who are tired of seeing their culture trivialized by the very people who tried to wipe them out in a mass genocide.
@msw. my husband is part native american and always says (not as graciously) the last part of your post “this nation tried to kill mine.” I’m Jewish and he always says, can you imagine if the Nazis won the war… Not to be insensitive, but history is something different and less recent. I can see the cowboys and Indians argument. They are conveyed as fierce warriors in American culture at a young age and not much else since everything else is white washed. i think the average american has a very elementary view of native americans unless they are partly themselves or have interacted with that small part of the population.
@lilo well said and i appreciate your pragmaticism.
Stupid and wrong of her. I just can’t have this conversation again, though, so I’m out.
Agreed. Stupid, offensive and gross. It seems like a running theme of the week though. I’m out as well.
While not okay AT ALL, these photos and the landscape are very beautiful. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of folks at Coachella garbed in headdresses too.
Ya the same ppl who go in order to brag that they’re at Coachella….yet they dont know the bands.
It’s as offensive as to wear a princess dress to play Marie Antoinette
I know i have a different opinion but i don’t know in what is offensive to wear traditional suit/make up and in more the pics are pretty
This is offensive, because even though they seem like pretty costumes or something, the thing is, all these “costumes” have meanings and symbols behind them that are important to the people of this culture. Wearing a princess dress is not even close to that.
Some find it offensive because there is often real meaning behind those feathers. Many aren’t just for decoration, but required actual work and dedication or an act of bravery in some cases to merit receiving them as a privilege and here people are just dressing up in them.
http://www.indians.org/articles/indian-headdress.html
http://apihtawikosisan.com/hall-of-shame/an-open-letter-to-non-natives-in-headdresses/
http://www.native-languages.org/headdresses.htm
To be clear – Indian culture is extremely spiritual – perhaps even more so because of the way our people have been treated over hundreds of years. First Nations/American Indian/Native American/Anishinabe people take our customs and ceremonial & traditional dress very seriously. And others have stated, each bead, each feather, each article of clothing has special meaning to the wearer. Even among other Indians- this is not something you f*ck around with. These are rules and customs and ceremonies that are sacred.
^^This. Miigwetch.
That analogy is way off base. Sexy squaw is demeaning and offensive. It appropriates deep and rich native cultures and focuses on the most insulting and racially tinged stereotypes.
From the Native Appropriations website:
Native women have been highly sexualized throughout history and in pop culture. There are any number of examples I can pull from, the “Indian Princess” stereotype is everwhere–think the story of Pocahontas, or Tiger Lily in Peter Pan, or Cher in her “half breed” video, or the land ‘o’ lakes girl, seriously almost any image of a Native woman that you’ve seen in popular culture. We’re either sexy squaws (the most offensive term out there), wise grandmas, or overweight ogres. But the pervasive “sexy squaw” is the most dangerous, especially when you know the basic facts about sexual violence against Native women:
1 in 3 Native women will be raped in their lifetime
70% of sexual violence against Native women is committed by non-Natives
Mich: That’s horrible. Thank you for bringing attention to the issue.
In European countries there are actual groups of people who live and practice our culture. It may seem bat $&@# crazy but at least some do the research to actually learn about First Nations cultures. Maybe I’m naive to feel it’s out if sincerity but I don’t feel my culture is for First Nations people only.
However there is not much education surrounding first nations history in Europe. My spouse is from England and knew absolutely nothing about us. Which I thought was odd because the British colonized First Nations people in Canada (my experience, I cannot speak for Americans) and promoted cultural genocide.
Many way my issue with sexy squaw and native imagery is the lack of actual education behind the photographs. I don’t believe it’s disrespectful to highlight a different culture in media but there needs to be actual research done rather than just throwing a head dress on a model and take a picture.
This offends me as it shows no respect or interest in the subject. Unfortunately this results in further stereotyping of another culture.
THANK YOU.
Some good points raised but I call BS on the stat 70% of sexual violence is being perpetuated by non natives.
There is a huge problem with violence against native women not being taken seriously, but a lot of abuse problems occur within many First Person’s Nations.
@ Sienna
Take it up with the US Department of Justice. It is their statistic.
Sad, really sad. Everyone is a Cherokee princess when it fits the ticket, huh? The ticket expires and it’s ‘That was fun, now back to the real world and real people.’
This stuff is still fresh, in Canada, the last residential school closed 1996.
1996!
So it seems like people just can’t shake their desire to tell Native American people what to think and how they’re *allowed* to feel. Although unfortunately Native American people as a minority are far from unique in that regard. ‘You don’t get to dictate your cultures to me, I take as I please–since they’re all a buffet table and I want to choose, consume and discard at my own pleasure. And f you have ba problem with me doing that you’re inflexible and bitter. Reverse intolerance, I’m being oppressed!’
When did one person (Maria) become a nation?
It’s offensive in the same way that Catholics find it offensive when people dress as “sexy nun” for halloween, or wearing a pope hat with a bikini. Those things have deep meaning to some folks and they don’t appreciate them being treated disrespectfully.
Really Heidi? I find it difficult to believe that she did not know this would not have people in a uproar. Could this have been done because ratings for this show are not that great and she has to generate interest? Hmmm
I apologize on the behalf of Germany, WE DON`T LIKE HER.
Fremdschämen ist angesagt.
I’m just going to sit here and start the countdown clock for the usual statements of denial and naivety that happens when a person from Europe dresses in blackface/redface. With some popcorn and a beer. 😀
*edit* Ah I see it’s already started. Time for another beverage.
People in Europe mostly DON’T know it’s offensive. It’s not done to hurt anyone.
And there’s the usual statement. Denial, never taking any responsibility for how/why its offensive. It’s a broken record and it’s exhausting. Even when overt racism happens in the US, at least they talk about it openly and acknowledge that things like this exist there. Not this ostrich in the sand nonsense.
“We don’t know! It’s not the same here! Americans always trying to put their viewpoint on the world. This is only stuff americans get upset by Why do _insert group here_ think this is offensive?! It’s the same as dressing up in lederhosen/princess dress/” and on and on and on.
Eleanor: Well now you know. You can spread the word and help educate others.
I’m from a country that never had slavery and barely had any immigration. I’ve met only one person of a different race in my entire life. Prior to coming to this site, I’ve honest to God, never heard of blackface or redface. Now that I know what it means, I wouldn’t do it, but I didn’t know.
Of course we know it’s offensive. I am actually offended by the fact that so many people on here think Europeans are totally ignorant, stupid and nonchalant about certain topics.
@ Eleonore: Vraiment? It was just meant to make money off someone else´s sacred cultural aspects. Right . Going by your name I would say you´re african (or married to one), possibly from Benin or Togo. If so, how would you feel if she was wearing vodoussi sacral gear only meant for the initiated, just to make a quick buck & by doing so keeping stereotypes alive?
I’m European, my nick is a character from a Wes Anderson movie.
I’m not saying this isn’t offensive. Heidi lived in the US and she should know better. What I am saying is that some things that are done out of hatred in the US are done because of lack of knowledge here.
Seriously. Why do you expect all the people in the world to be aware of americal cultural history behind certain symbols? It’s ridiculous. Black/red/white/whatever face has zero history where I live. While I would think twice before doing something like that (because I’ve spent too much time on this site, know the meaning it has in America and would be uncomfortable with it) I wouldn’t shade other people here for doing it. You seriously can not know what stands for what in different cultures and what innocent from your point of view things can offend people in other parts of the world. Maybe some dignified people in Examplandia would find it offencive when people put on lipstick.
While I had said all that I think doing something for television should probably be held to higher standard.
Folks might be able to start out that way, and I don’t shade people for that. But then once they hear about it being racist it’s deny deny that it could it anyway be construed as racist, and that people need to not be upset. That racism doesn’t exist in that way in whatever country they are from. Trying to use the straw man argument that it’s the same as wearing a princess dress. And it’s the same celebitchy posters again and again and again.
Point is moot, when you are a celeb who lives mostly in the US like Heidi & WAS married to a black man. Also if you decide to use someone else´s culture for fun, be ready to face backlash if it´s done without research & thinking. In doubt, stick to your own … .
I don’t expect everyone to know cultural meanings in the US. Some will; some won’t, depending on how much they consume or are around American culture. Heidi has lived and worked here for how long? She knows.
I really just don’t get it – you guys know I’m half Native American and this sh!t is just ridiculous. Way to romanticize a completely marginalized and forgotten culture. I’m as shocked and saddened by this as I am by seeing little kids in “Indian” halloween costumes. It’s icky. It’s not respectful, it’s just gross.
I do think this is very disrespectful, but I don’t think that people in some European countries do it because they wan’t to be disrespectful and offensive. I think they really don’t know it’s offensive.
@GiGi
I really like your comment and it is to the point.
I remember Vogue Italy pictured models as victims of domestic violence and their offenders. It was poorly justified as bringing awareness to this subject. Sure, never for the money and anything to increase sales and nothing else.
Heidi Klum should have known better. As I said – she lives in America so she should be aware of its history.
Agree with you 100%! Remember that horrible Victoria’s Secret runway show where they not only dressed one of the models in Native American costume but also dressed another model as a bicycle? I still will never shop there again because I found it so offensive. I’m not Native American but my son is partially due to the bloodline of his father and we could not be more proud of that fact. I took classes while in college to learn more about the culture and I have the highest respect. When you realize that it’s illegal to even possess an Eagle feather in the U.S. UNLESS you are Native American well then you are on your way to understanding the significance of the headdress and so much more. I agree with the other posters who say that Heidi should know better.
Yeah, it’s regressive and in bad taste. I feel that way about Ralph Lauren ads that feature African tribesman posed with purposely emaciated models.
I’m going to be deeply offended if anyone except Bavarians dress up in Dirndls and Lederhosen and celebrate Oktoberfest.
Seriously, why is everyone constantly offended by something. The show itself is incredibly stupid but the girls weren’t “redfaced” as their skin color wasn’t changed. Also, how is it different from doing a western movie where people also wear costumes?
Because if they’re doing movies to represent and discuss their culture, it’s different from using symbols and costumes that have ACTUAL meaning behind them for a fun fashion shoot. Come on. These are not costumes to actual Native Americans. These things MEAN something to them, and to use them in such a superficial way is offensive and insensitive.
Seriously, are they running out of themes or what?
Thanks Zipster! I completely agree with you, but we seem to be the minority here.
I dont like GNTM, and I think Heidi Klum is not the brightest candle on the cake, but the whole debate is ridiculous. What about carneval or halloween? Should be forbid it?
Be offended by stuff that really matters. But I think, thats a big difference between europeans and americans.
Considering how the Native Americans were treated by European settlers, the effects of which we still see today, i’d say that yes, it does matter.
It sounds like you’re European? It might make more sense to you if you lived here. People aren’t mad about these things for no reason. The United States has a terrible, terrible past of genocide and racism, and we are still living with the effects of those atrocities today. Things like blackface and appropriation of Native customs are a reminder of the demeaning, violent and extremely culturally insensitive ways minority populations have been treated here.
Yeah, it’s only paint, but it carries a huge cultural message with it. If it doesn’t make sense to you, and you think everyone’s getting overly sensitive, that’s your right. But there are reasons people are upset about these things, and it’s not because they’re just looking for stuff to get upset over.
I think key word here is UNITED STATES. I agree that these things are offensive, but they are done out of ignorance, not out of hatred- If someone from The US doesn blackface, I assume he knows the meaning, has heard of minstrel shows and does it out of hatred. I really doubt someone from Moldova or Iceland do it out of hatred.
Just imagine if you were a victim of sexual abuse. Of course it wasn’t your fault but people don’t care, to them you’re just a slut; because you were dressed provocatively, because you were dumb enough to go out to a party to have fun, because you were asking for it. You try and tell them the truth, but they won’t listen because they can’t see past these preconceived notions of a misogyny. And then they make all these rape jokes because they’re so funny, but it’s just a joke and it doesn’t mean anything important so it “doesn’t really matter”.
After years of colonial abuse and many ongoing social issues regarding Native American peoples, making “harmless” fun out of their sacred culture is really just the cherry on top of it all. This ignorance that comes with privilege, especially white privilege, should not be enabled or endorsed. Yes maybe the silly white man didn’t know better, but say if your child was hurting another child unknowingly, it is your responsibility to teach him that he is hurting someone and that it is not right. Even if blackface or redface does not hold cultural or historical significance in Europe, you must be aware that these seemingly superficial acts have a violent and tragic history behind them. It would be as if an ignorant American (or anyone else really) decided that swastikas would make a fabulously trendy accessory, and wanted to incorporate it as part of their fashion line.
The thing I don’t get is why you think people outside of America know the history of blackface?
I wrote this once before. If someone held up three fingers and pointed them at me here, I would be very offended. If an American did it, I wouldn’t be because I wouldn’t expect him to know the history behind it. If he did it after I explained it, THEN would I be offended.
If a person here dressed up as Jay Z and put on a blackface I don’t think it’s the same as Julianne Hough when she did it. She’s American, therefore aware of the history behind it, done by people in HER country. The other person just played a character and put on part of a costume, the same way he would put on a wig. Now if someone explaine him the history behind it and he did it again, THEN woould he be offensive.
“I’m going to be deeply offended if anyone except Bavarians dress up in Dirndls and Lederhosen and celebrate Oktoberfest.” – You’re not even close with this one. Bavarians are not a marginalized population, not like the US native populations are. Also, dressing up for cultural events is part of the tradition. It is welcomed.
“Seriously, why is everyone constantly offended by something. The show itself is incredibly stupid but the girls weren’t “redfaced” as their skin color wasn’t changed.” – You’re right, they were not in “red face.” That was a play of words of “black face.” They used face paint, which is part of a sacred and stereotyped tradition in some Native cultures. Copying it for a photo shoot of a “sexy squaw” is disrespectful.
“Also, how is it different from doing a western movie where people also wear costumes?” – Because it’s a movie. Hopefully a movie that is not disrespectful of someone’s culture. The cowbody westerns are heavily criticized for being racist.
If you don’t get why it’s offensive, that’s fine. Just don’t get mad if people get pissed at you and say it’s insensitive to condone cultural appropriation.
Not to mention that the issue of Native American portrayals in movies has become an extremely hot topic issue over the last few years. Johnny Depp as Tonto, Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily.
It really matters to Native American people, but evidently they don’t count.
What an utterly trivializing, unthoughtful comment. Bravo.
If i was a part of any disenfranchised looked down upon for my actual culture Indian Tribe and i saw this Twattery I’d be PISSED
As a Person of Color and a minority I’m scrunching my face like someone Sharted right in my vicinity, this is just gross
+1 Someone’s culture/ethnicity is not a costume. Period.
These threads are so tiring. It’s like talking to a wall with some people and I am SO sick of the false analogies.
I don’t get why it’s so difficult for people to understand why this is offensive.
I’m with you. It is one thing to say “I didn’t realize” and another to say “Because it doesn’t mean anything to me it doesn’t matter and people need to get over themselves”.
People here are not saying that they don’t understand WHY it is offensive, they are saying that where they’re from no one ever told them it was offensive,
THIS. and with Mich to.
I don’t either. I mean, I wouldn’t like it if someone did a photoshoot with ‘sexy slave women’–mainly because I know that at least a few of my ancestors WERE those slave women, and it’s not very sexy or sensitive to the people who STILL suffer the effects of slavery today. Just like the Native Americans.
Also–I wore an Indian costume when I was in 3rd grade, and I guess I never thought about it being offensive. I know that I won’t be dressing my kids up as NA’s.
Yeah, Eleanor but the difference is no one is saying “oh thank you for teaching me about this! wow, now that I know about this, it is messed up and people shouldn’t do that.” They’re using their ignorance defense to, as usual, cast aspersions on “dumb, too-sensitive” americans and preclude taking any responsibility POST-knowledge.
Honestly, Kitten, I think most of them simply don’t want to know–they don’t want to have to think about things differently, or work to understand why someone with a history of oppression might be offended by these issues. Or, even worse, assume that everyone is oversensitive and should agree that things are fine as they are. The rhetoric doesn’t change because the motivations are the same. It’s just gonna be straw man after straw man until they are willing to change perspective and give up the idea that they know better than the victims of oppression.
This is not approval, but the are groups of Europeans that hold our culture as sacred and do walk the red road. But, this is obviously not one of those situations. Is her bubble so thick she thinks it’s playing homage to us as the moronic fans of the redskins do #notyourmascot
#NotYourTigerLily
All peoples have tribal roots. Native Americans fortunantly have retained the sacredness of their tribal pieces.
Using those sacred spiritual pieces as props for a shoot like this was poor judgement. However, I doubt Heidi Klum had ill intentions.
These issues are always very sensitive, unless she was purposely trying to drum up publicity,which makes it even more disturbing than she should of known better. Id like to think that she was just paying some sort of homage.
No sort of homage, attention brings money.
How, in this day and age, ANYONE could think this is a good idea baffles me. It is extremely offensive. Even worse are the lukewarm “justifications” for doing it. And god, am I NOT looking forward to all the idiots who show up to Coachella wearing this stuff (looking at YOU Alessandra Ambrosio).
“War bonnets are not for women” that rubbed me the wrong way. why is that okay? why would Heidi need to respect a tradition that excludes women?
You’ve got to be kidding… please tell me you’re kidding. Native American tribal societies are primarily Matriarchal. Women hold a lot of power in these communities.
power as in “you cant wear that because of your gender”? women can be warriors, too.
Sarah, your point is ridiculous. GiGi is right – Native tribes were HUGELY matriarchal. Women ran the show. In fact, when it comes to status being passed down, I believe it relies heavily on the maternal lines rather than paternal lines. Nobody said women CAN’T be warriors. Nobody is trying to hold women down here. The fact is, that that part of traditional clothing was something males wore. Same as many other cultures- there were specific clothing for each gender.
I’m not a Native American woman but I am a Muslim woman so i hear this sort of stuff being flung my way all the time and i just want to say that the Native American culture is more than just war bonnets. Women are not excluded from anything – they are very involved but in a different way. If i’m not mistaken, some tribes even consider women more powerful than the men. Native American commenters, i hope you can shed some light onto your culture for both Sarah and i to learn from!
To Tifzlan,
Very well written post. I am a Cree, Metis and English woman from Canada.
I believe this is a good learning opportunity for everyone even Heidi klum herself. It highlights the importance of knowledge in order to stop discrimination ( whether it is on purpose or not). The regalia ( not costumes) worn on some of the models, especially the headdress have significant meanings behind them and a person has to earn the right to wear it.
There would have been numerous other ways to do this photoshoot rather than relying on the usual “props” so to speak. In my opinion it would have been a helluva lot more interesting to look at.
Tifzlan,
Before Europeans came to Turtle Island (North America) First Nations women were very independent and often the main decision makers because their sphere was the community. We cared for the children, elderly, food sources, shelter…ect and this was recognized as important to their survival. However men were the hunters and protectors and their sphere was outside the group. Neither gender was seen as more important than the other.They were equal in that both ensured the survival of the people.
Spiritually women were seen above men as we are life givers. What’s interesting is the female baby was never seen as a burden as she was going to be able to continue our survival.
Unfortunately once Europeans came with thier patriarchal ideas women list their influence and standing. MICH brought up the horrifying statistics of the violence still being inflicted in First Nations women today
I appreciate your willingness to learn
In friendship
Michelle
Michelle, are you from around NS? My fiance is of Metis and Wampanoag heritage. He’s actually just become registered as such because sadly, his grandmother always was ashamed of her heritage because of the way people treated them around here when she was young. It was something she tried to hide. Now that we’re learning more and more about it, she’s kind of loosened up and embraced it a little. Sad, though, that she felt she had to hide that for so long.
Hi ERRIN,
My people are from northern Alberta, my reserve (I’m registered also) is there. I currently live in SAskatchewan which has a population of over 60% First Nations, most of them children.
It’s too bad your boyfriends kokum (grandma in cree) was ashamed for do long because that can have serious repercussions. I’m glad she is finally coming around. My family was affected by residential school (look it up) and we have been suffering addictions, domestic violence, poverty.., ect. However my cousins and I are becoming educated in our ways and becoming healthy. I am the first person in my family to have a bachelors degree 🙂
My dad was really ashamed of his heritage and this made me scared of telling people who I was (I’m pale and have green eyes) however the birth of my first child really helped him become more accepting
In friendship
Michelle
I think those gender hangups are being projected. Wingtips aren’t for women, so what’s your point?
Pepsi (I apologize if it’s wrong)
I’m seriously trying to understand what your point is
My comment landed in the wrong section, I don’t know how, but it did. I’m on your side in this debate. It does look strange and out of place in the thread, doesn’t it. I hope that clears the confusion, I wasn’t trying to say something daft. I’m from Canada too, I’m not Native American but I am a minority, so I get chapped when people say to us, ‘maybe you’re the racist for questioning me, I think I know more about the experience of racism than do you, sonny.’
So again, the thread police set me up and I don’t think the comment to which I was responding is even there anymore.
Pepsi presents…coke
Fair enough 🙂 you show a terrific passion for this topic. I enjoy reading your posts.
In friendship,
Michelle
Good, I’m glad this is sorted out. I was afraid you would think I’m a crazy person because a technical glitch scrambled my comment. Friendship returned.
It’s offensive. Gosh it’s so important that we educate ourselves. Especially those in the in the public eye with an audience. In order to appeal to all types of people, you need to know about them and their history. I understand that Heidi may not have known, but doing even the slightest bit of research would have helped her realize this was NOT a good idea.
Native Amercians are classified as an ethnicity or culture but not a race by the US government. You must maintain tribal affiliation to be considered Native for affirmative action. You can self identify as black, asian or hispanic but not as native when applying for jobs/financial aid etc. I don’t really get it but there it is. Odd considering most Mexicans are a mix of native and european blood as are most native americans. And natives themselves are the worst offenders when it comes to telling others they are not “real” natives. I feel kind of “whatever” about this photo shoot. If they were dressed like geisha or in grass skirts and lei would we object?
Yes, lots of people would. Just like when Katy Perry did it for her VMA or AMA or whatever performance.
Thanks! I was coming to say: see ANY Katy Perry appropiative performance or video thread
I really do not want to be the nitpicker and I read it all the time, but all humans are one race or rather species and within are different ethnicities
THIS^^^^!
@aang I’m not sure where you got your information from but Native Americans are considered a race. Yes you have to state what tribe you’re affiliated with but it’s still a race. Perhaps the latest US Government Census will help you understand.
http://www.census.gov/schools/pdf/2010form_info.pdf
Biological Aspects of Race: 2 pages
http://www.virginia.edu/woodson/courses/aas102%20%28spring%2001%29/articles/AAPA_race.pdf
I am a Native American, born on a reservation. Red skin, black hair, high cheekbones and a family full of diabetics and alcoholics. I have spent my entire life answering the question “What are you? Mexican or Indian?” And although I can check the box on the census I must show proof of tribal affiliation when applying for college or any aid. Not sure but I don’t think they ask african americans or asians for proof of racial or cultural identity. I was just pointing out the double standard by our government.
Oh and V4real, you can be as Native as they come but if your tribe is not recognized, or you were kicked out in one of the roll purges to increase per capita casino incomes you are screwed and are entitled to no federal recognition for anything. So how can you a member of a race one day and not a member the next based on a vote by the tribal council? If your dad is a full blooded native and your mom is not, but your tribe is matrilineal, you are not considered a member of the tribe. You will consider yourself native but you are not, according to the government. So how can you be a member of a race if only your mom is native but but not if only your dad is?
@Aang, I get your point now that you explained further, your first comment just lead me to believe that you were saying Native Americans are not a race as described by the government. But they are considered a race, just like Black and White is a race. But your argument can be made for bi-racial people as well. If they have Black in them they can’t say they are White and there is no where on the census that says Bi-racial. If I’m mixed I should have the right to say my race is Black and White. So I get that you’re saying if you are Native and mixed with another race, the government don’t conside you the Native Race. If my mom is White and my dad is Black, they don’t consider me White. It’s a big problem that I find with the governement and it’s ashame that you have to go through hoops to prove your identiy to be recognized as such to them.
“I suspect most US residents are aware of the controversy.”
I’m going to say the exact opposite. The majority of Americans (and majority of people in any country that pushed out natives like Canada, Brazil, Australia, on and on and on and on….) have absolutely no clue.
Here we go again. Maybe her and Rooney Mara can hangout together and pretend to be little Indians. They can do eachother’s nails and talk war bonnets and such. And Ireland Baldwin can come over and bring the cookie dough ice cream and then they can all get white girl wasted while they talk about how cute Johnny Depp looks in buckskin.
As a black person living and grown up in Europe I’m tired of the debate of US vs Europe about racism…
Racism is alive and well in both places and both have a long history of genocide and istitutional racism.Therefore there’s no way people don’t know about the significance of red face and black face,most deliberately ignore it. Cultural appropriation is so bad and I can’t believe there’re people comparing wearing traditional clothing and jewerly of minorities who have been marginalized and MOCKED for their traditions with wearing victorian clothing.Please educate yourselves
Europe is not one place. Some countries had a long history of genocide, some didn’t.
Most countries did have a history of genocide, especially the germans. & I don´t mean the Jews only.
Oh good Lord. I get beyond sick of EVERY FREAKING BODY being offended by the most minute little thing. Get over yourselves, people.
” the most minute little thing”….like our lives and culture? You are a genius.
+10000 PattyPyro
Also Lara, it’s actually funny that you say that because you’re acting so offended over the whole thing. How DARE other people be offended without checking to see if it’s okay with you.
Maybe people will “get over” it when it stops affecting their lives and the lives of their loved ones. These costumes perpetuate the racist culture of treating Native Americans like something of the past and not a real identity; people who wear traditional hair or dress are treated as oddities and freaks. So long as that remains we must educate eachother. Until then i suggest you stop getting offended by other people getting offended by racism. People like you just contribute to the problems of society.
I used to agree – however since Nick “white face” and no apology – I say go for it. It And please don’t fall back on history – move along and quit living in the past. By the way’s an open field now. As well this is clothing pure and simple. someone wore the clothing that was from a cerrtain culture- no big deal.
Nick Canon was booed at a Basketball game for his ‘white face’ stunt. It was silly and attention getting but absolutely does not have the same connotations as black face and/or Native American Cultural appropriation.
This is what annoys me. How so many people here on this site argued that Nick Cannon’s whiteface wasn’t offensive. O RLY?? So you want to say blackface and red face is offensive but whiteface isn’t because white people have no history of oppression???? Ok. But then don’t expect people from other cultures and countries to understand that kind of half-baked reasoning.
If this is offensive then whiteface should be bloody offensive too.
Serene: I’m white. Please fill me in on my history of great oppression along the lines of genocide or slavery. I’m all ears. If you could keep it within the last thousand years or so it would be awesome! Don’t want to take up TOO much space here, do we.
Well Mich. I’m South East Asian but I actually live in a Pacific Island.
I didn’t mean that ‘Oooooh, these poor white people, living in such oppression’. What I meant is that to me, racism comes in many forms. And you shouldn’t tolerate any aspect of it. You can’t condemn one side of it and go right ahead and condone another side of it.
Nick Cannon says that he did whiteface in the sense of humor and not hatred. Well, I’m sure that guy in Vienna did blackface in the same humorous sense with Kim Kardashian. You don’t accept blackface. You don’t accept redface. Then don’t accept whiteface too.
But don’t go shouting BLACKFACE IS BAD BUT WHITEFACE IS ALRIGHT, YO! or else you end up confusing and annoying outsiders like myself.
@ Serene
Anyone with even the most basic understanding of world history understands the difference.
YOU introduced the concept of ‘whiteface’ being bad because of the historical oppression of white people (I’m still waiting for you to find me an example). It was stupid when you said it the first time and then you went and doubled down.
Yo!
Its not the past. This is a trivialization of a living people. I dare you to go up to a minority and tell them to stop living in the past. Check your privilege, STAT.
When I said that bit about white people and oppression, I didn’t mean that white people had been oppressed by others in the past. What I meant was that just because they haven’t been oppressed before, it’s still not okay to be racist towards them. Maybe you could reread it. I guess the way I phrased it would give some the wrong impression.
You said you’re white. Think of a derogatory term towards white people. Have someone of a different race shout that at you in an angry tone and aggressive manner. Have someone say that term to you in a sneering tone. Is that okay?? Do you think it’s okay just because white people have never had history of oppression?? I think that’s terrible! I would never stand for it and I hope you wouldn’t either.
I had just meant that racism comes in all forms. Let’s agree to say no to all of it and not just parts of it. Anyways, hope this isn’t getting too aggressive. It Monday morning here in the islands. Hope you had a great weekend wherever you are!! 🙂
My granny was a Pocomtuck. I dressed like a native girl every few years for Halloween. In New England we all did, whether native or not. I’d go to pow-wows and festivals and trading posts, and every white person, myself included, would leave wearing headresses, moccasins, medicine bags, skins, there was face painting, etc. I guess my two points are:
1) This costumery and emulation by non-natives didn’t bother the tribes that I’m familiar with when it made them money.
2) It’s costumery. When did dressing up like a certain culture or ethnicity become racist? I think people are just way too sensitive nowadays.
It sounds like, despite your Granny’s background, you don’t identify as Native, so it is all “costume” to you. That is a shame.
P.S. assuming one wants to make enough money to survive, one generally cannot afford to pick and choose who purchases their goods (speaking from frustrated experience, selling general stuff as well as handwork that is personally significant)
I identify as human. And as such, I think all this hypersensitivity is hogwash. Being offended is a choice.
Depicting Native Americans along racist stereotypes is also a choice.
Many people appear eager to take offense. And there are perhaps just as many happy to oblige them.
Once you find out something is hurtful and offensive, the next step is to STOP DOING IT. Apologize and make a concerted effort to be more sensitive. Educate yourself. Educate others. Don’t rationalize and complain about how it means nothing in your country.
I can’t like this sentiment enough.
If you didn’t know, fine. As soon as you know, you damn well stop being a d–k. You can’t plead ignorance once you’ve been informed.
I hate the fashion world. They’re stupid, vapid people obsessed with ostentatious shows of expensive, ridiculous clothing, hairstyles, make-up and shoes. I hate that they sh*t all over the regular folk who shop at Target and Marshall’s. I hate that they misappropriate cultural dress which, in many cases, has a dignified religious or ceremonial aspect to it, and turn it into a stupid fashion “statement”. Heidi Klum is an over-exposed ass who will do anything to stay in the limelight and sell anything if she thinks it will keep her rich and relevant.
I’m from Germany, and just as other Europeans have pointed out before, blackface and redface is just not a thing here, nobody even knows those words. But i understand why its offensive, its just that tbh, really, NO ONE ever talks about that here, its just not a thing.
but i agree, at least heidi should have known better and not have done the shoot
Especially since her ex is of Igbo ethnicity & her kids are mixed. So she was definitely exposed to the consequences of racial bias. Sie hat definitiv keine Ausrede hier.
Really? I know plenty of people being aware of it. I think you’re generalizing a bit too much.
I find this very distasteful.
god, totally offensive. i have no idea why ANYONE in 2014 would think that this is appropriate.
OK, as a person from Europe afte reading this article and the comments above, I will never ever mention native Americans, go to see any movie about them, read books or approach the topic ever again. Each of us have personal priorites to educate themselves and for me personally Native Americans are not first on the list. If I can’t touch the topic without being an experts – see commenters advise Europeans not to have an opinion unless they’re PhD level on it – I will avoid it altogether from now on and advise my friends to do the same.
Umm I think you’ve overreacted by saying that you won’t touch native American history now, and we’re not telling Europeans that you have to have a PhD to discuss it. However it’s wrong to appropriate ANY culture’s ceremonial or religious dress for a “fashion” shoot with a bunch of half-naked models. We’re not saying it’s only about native Americans, we’ve mentioned Japanese and Islamic clothing and icons here too. It’s just plain disrespectful to any culture to use their symbolic dress is such a fatuous manner.
You know which religion is constantly used in such shoots? Christianity. Not that it’s the same, just an observation.
Eleanor Zissou,
Yes, apparently it’s ok to take a giant dump on Christianity (Madonna, Larry David and Jesus’ “tear”, etc. etc.). That’s “funny” and “edgy”. Other religions are off limits though, even when you’re not actually *trying* to offend anyone.
This is for Eleanor Zissou. I still remember the controversy over Madonna’s use of religious icons in her Like A Prayer’s video. Catholics were pissed and imo rightly so.
Appropriating and disrespecting religious icons, clothing, symbols or culture that is deeply meaningful or sacred to other people has never set well me. Nor will I ever question the right of the affected to get upset.
@I Choose Me
I feel like back in the day it was a huge controversy, but now it’s like… mainstream controversy? Meaning it was done so many times that general public got used to it somewhat. And I get a feeling like christian people are expected to get over it already.
Seriously? Christians get upset over being “disrespected” all the time. Happy Holidays anyone?
I agree. It’s a pain in the @ss to walk on eggshells every second of the day, better to just ignore these subjects altogether.
Yes, posters telling others to be informed before dismissing the offense of people means you have to further envelope yourself in ignorance.
Before saying “well it’s not a thing here” or “Oh, but nobody KNOWS it’s offensive” take a moment to read WHY everyone is saying it’s offensive and learn from it. Nobody is saying f— off and don’t talk about it. People are saying to educate yourself, and learn a little about the topic before dismissing it as people being too sensitive.
Native americans will be thankful for that. You don´t get to tell opressed people how they should feel about their sacred attire being misused. Better learn from it & show respect to others´s feelings & culture. It´s not always about you. & Europeans need not have this smart-ass attitude. It´s arrogant & frankly racist. There I said it.
I agree. How do I put this delicately? There is a history of minorities being told what to do and if they didn’t do it you would hear about it. It’s this condescending ‘I know better than you, I don’t have to answer to you, you’re just acting out’ attitude lingering on, as if there is this right to tell people how to feel but it’s totally unjustified when says no. There are offended people and some people acting like victims, so the sensitivity isn’t a one way street. People throw around that Stephen Fry quotation like it’s scripture, rather than one man’s opinion, well I’m sure they forget it pretty quickly when the shoe is on the other foot. And I’m really sure that a few day’s time someone will do something totally benign and the anti-PC supporters will make sure that everyone knows how stupid they are by making a false equivalency comparison. ‘Oh, she died her hair blonde–that’s Nordic appropriation’, or some rot. Just wait until someone makes a mockery of something you hold dear for a minute, let alone centuries and we’ll see what qualifies as overly sensitive.
Just care about people’s feelings. Not everything will have the same impact on us but that doesn’t mean it should be disregarded. Occam’s Razor–if this many people get upset, isn’t there a chance that it’s for a reason?
Some posters have spoken about how everyone accepts someone like Madonna who uses Christian symbols – crosses, crucifixes, dressing like a nun, etc. – in her concerts and videos. Well I and many others are as offended by her as much as by Heidi Klum’s senseless and tasteless fashion shoot. Using cultural and religious items and imagery to promote something as silly as photographing vapid models or traipsing around on stage trying to be “controversial” is just insulting and offensive, right across the board.
I’m probably in the minority but i think the images are striking and beautiful. And i can als osee why offense is being taken at them.
And maybe i’m a Heidi apologist but why are we crucifying her? Next Top Model is Tyra’s thing. It’s her baby. Heidi hosts the German edition. That does not mean she calls all the shots. She may not even have any say about the shoots-but is contracted to promote the show on social media and such.
Am I wrong?
I think folks are fixing on Heidii because she is the face of the show amd has spent more than enough time stateside to know better. So many people had to collaborate to make that photo shoot happen. So many people had to agree that it was a good idea. That is offensive. That no one even did a half-second web search before proceeding with the idea is shocking. Or perhaps they knew exactly the response they would get, and figured the exposure was worth it. And that kind of thing turns my stomach.
I’m with you @Wino. I’m a member of the Cherokee Nation. I think the photos are beautiful and the whole thing could have been handled in a less offensive way, perhaps if an actual tribal member Native American consultant had been retained to give advice or if there were some acknowledgement of the symbolism and suffering of the tribes or if all related revenue had – in advance – been earmarked to donate to Native American causes. Now someone – Heidi or the producers or Tyra – needs to make a meaningful donation to the Native American College Fund or something. I also think Heidi does very little other than show up, get her hair and make up done, and read lines. But she is the easiest target.
While we are on the topic, I am more offended by the fact that Andrew Jackson is on the US $20 bill than I am by these photos. He single handedly condemned thousands of Native Americans by ordering their removal to Indian Territory, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling to the contrary. That’s offensive.
Actually, she calls the shots about her show & it´s execution. Tyra has nothing to do with it. & Of course those picks are beautifully shot, they are supposed to appeal to the senses. But that doesn´ t excuse them. Those they hurt definitely see them as an abnegation of their culture. & Heidi should know better, given who her ex-man is.
Heidi Klum has been living in the US off and on for a very long time. There is no way she can claim she did not know this would be offensive. The whole “she’s German, so maybe she didn’t know” is bs. I’m especially surprised she isn’t more sensitive to racial/ethnic issues as a mother of biracial children.
I’m just surprised that nobody thinks to research anything before doing shoots like this. Heidi has lived in the US for a long time. Whenever I travel internationally, I do some googling to make sure that I don’t do anything insulting to the people I encounter.
Stupid stuff like this was forgivable before we had information literally at our fingertips. I can see, pre-internet thinking that these items and the setting were simply beautiful pieces that someone wanted to incorporate into fashion. Now, we can find out in seconds if something is a bad idea.
Didn’t Heidi “dress up” as a Hindu God for Halloween one year? Did she get flack for that? I really can’t remember.
Because two wrongs make it right…. -_-
Nope, two wrongs don’t make it right. I was just curious as to whether she got flack for that as she wore someone’s religious deity as a damn halloween costume.
Oh yes, she certainly did, and yes, she got flak for it.
@msw
I thought so. She learned nothing from that experience?
I’m Canadian and have grown up with First Nations people, some being very close friends. It’s horrific what was done to them. But they have a beautiful culture and perhaps Heidi thinks so too. This is her way of showing appreciation for their creativity and symbolism. Why does it have to be negative? I dunno I’m just trying to put another spin on it. I find the photos quite beautiful.
Maggie, I get where you’re coming from. I’m from NS, and we have a lot of different culture around us. It IS a beautiful group of cultures. The way that they went about it is just not sensitive. They could have consulted with people to avoid being offensive, or they could have avoided making a culture into such a costume. I don’t think their intentions were bad, but the way they went about it wasn’t right.
Omg… All the PC fanatics need to take a chill pill. I think the photos are beautiful. Since the show in question is about FASHION & BEAUTY, I presume that is what they were going for. I find it hard to believe that some political or cultural disrespect was the intent.
As for cultural appropriation, that’s PC BS. These are artists, like painters, songwriters, & filmmakers, showing cultural appreciation.
I so agree. Beautiful and respectful pictures in my opinion.
Much better said coming from you.
Redface is SO much about beauty. Right. Others´s culture is not something to play with. Point.blank.period
This is another example of our FREEDOMS being constantly diminished because we’re offending some overly sensitive group that has lawyers and watchdogs everywhere (think GLAAD, Scientology). Watch out citizens of the US, we’re becoming less and less FREE all the time.
I know. It sucks how Native Americans, blacks and gays are always trying to take away our freedom to make fun of and oppress them. Too bad if they’re offended. It makes you miss the good ol’ days.
Maybe she thinks she’s honoring them and showing appreciation for the beauty of their culture Why put a negative spin on it? I’m not saying this to be argumentive just sayin.
Nothing Angee said has anything to do with honoring culture. She’s only concerned about people encroaching on her freedom. I’m not sure how people asking to be respected takes away her freedom.
You just equated GLAAD and Scientology. That’s absolutely pitiful.
Newsflash: No-one is infringing on your “freedom” to be an asshole. I always love how this “freedom” argument is used only defend somebody’s “right” to be a jerk and never extended to others’ “freedom” to say something about it.
Just in general, can I tell you how much I love your posts? That’s it.
@ Pepsi…
Awww:) Thx!
Unless people are being restricted by a government entity (fined, imprisoned, sanctioned, etc.), their “freedom” is not being infringed upon. People are free to do racist things, but that doesn’t mean they are free from hearing other people’s opinions on it.
Freedom is a two way street which includes the freedom to react and express an opinion about something someone else did.
Celebrities refuse to learn, huh. Stupid move, vetrrrrry stupid move. I’m surprised that the black girl didn’t see the problem and know better, but perhaps it would have cost her professionally-:still, ugh. Stupid. No, it’s not even stupid, it have crossed the threshold and into stooooppid. Learn yout history people, learn why this is unacceptable. Ugh.
To take items that denote the spiritual or recognize a warrior’s courage and use it for fashion is just plain wrong and belittles these cultures. Whatever your personal belief system is, try to imagine a fashion shoot that disrespects it; perhaps upside down crosses, or Heidi posed with an infant as the Madonna and child, or Purple Hearts used as earrings. Those images would be profane to me personally, but not more so than the above pictures are to Native Americans. There is a difference between having admiration of the art and history of other cultures and misappropriating it for our own ends.
This site has gotten so amazingly good at race baiting. Good god. Its sad.
Did they force Heidi to do this stupid shit? I don´t think so.
I thought Heidi was an American Citizen? I also don’t understand why people condemn others for dressing as different cultural groups but they don’t mind when actors do it on screen. Movies are to make money not to honor a culture. I feel that if you are going to get upset about something that Heidi did than where is the outrage when it is done in movies?
It was here &on other forums as well. But since the minorities are not important, of course they are too sensitive. Heidi doesn´t get to perpetuate stereotypes using sacred symbols that are reserved to initiated only either.
Mm. I always wonder, what would be lost if for some reason people couldn’t dress in that clothing? Is it a *principles* thing? But how much time do people spend thinking about the lives, ways and histories of whatever minority group is in question? I’m not saying that people should only focus historically oppressed groups in an act of self-mortification but it seems like frequently, the only times when thought is given it’s because they’ve become really passionate about how unfair they’re being. The most thought given is when they’re angry. That’s an approach.
Stupid, offensive, and will garner her a ton of frothing racist fans who want to go back to the “good ol’ days” when they were able to be as offensive and obnoxious as they wanted to toward minorities without paying for it socially.
this. And PS, I am so overly sick of the glorification of the anorexic body type. Its speculated that a young celebrity mother (age 25) just died from anorexia, leaving behind two small children. When will all women of all nations, start to boycott this “model” crap. Model of what? Anorexia combined with the sexual objectification of young women?
When I was in Japan I wore a kimono. When my sister married someone from Japan, we wore kimonos at a portion of the wedding.
When his family visited, we hosted a party and some of us again, wore a kimono.
was this offensive? I hope not, we were honouring their visit and their culture.
I don’t find Katy Perry dressing as a Harajuku girl offensive. I also did not find Gwen Steffani’s Harajuku Girls offensive. Yes, I’ve been to Harajuku. It was, hands down, one of the most amazing places I have ever been. Both women, I believe, have been to Harajuku, as I have. I believe Gwen had the idea of Harajuku girls because she loved it so much.
Is Heidi Klum honouring Native culture with these photos? I think not. That is why I find the photos offensive. She picked a “theme” for a photoshoot, and that could have been any theme. There was no specific reason, she did not want to honour this culture nor educate the populous.
Ask japanese, hell asian what they thought about Katy & Gwen. In fact there is an article on Lainey Gossip about that. She explains it best, being asian herself. Maybe it will enlighten you.
& You wore a kimono, but certainly not those reserved for initiated or priests. So of course you´re off the hook. 🙂
Does anyone know of a mainstream movie/photoshoot/anything in which native Americans have been depicted in a way that didn’t cause offense? I am genuinely curious and would love to see an example. I am trying to understand the differences between an offensive portrayal and an accepted portrayal.
Still waiting for that miracle to happen. I don´t know any, but maybe the AI community made some movies about their culture themselves? I would look for that.
Some excellent clips that put the issue into perspective.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hJFi7SRH7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzwM1qEuHBw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urL02BtqxRM
Some of the photos seem okay. But the one with the Headdress is questionable.
I went to a themed birthday party the other day where we were supposed to dress up as our childhood heroes. As a kid, I always wanted to be a Red Indian. So I bought a dress in a shop and put a feather in my hair. Am I a racist?
Well I’m from an English, Native American heritage. If I did that, being as pale as I am, I would still be paying homage to my ancestors. One being Nanyehi, “Nancy Ward” who is my grandfathers great x 3 grandmother. I’m proud of that. 🙂 If they are not doing this shoot for a reason such as that, then just No.
I don’t find this offensive at all. I don’t find black face offensive either. No one said anything about Robert Downey Jnr’s role in Tropic Thunder. Things have reached the point where people cannot do anything without the moral police.
This says all you need to know about cultural appropriation: http://rabble.ca/news/2011/01/theft-and-appropriation-indigenous-cultures
I guess I can agree with the people who say that there are bigger issues than this. Only because native women, from babies to adult women are still being traded and used as sex slaves for white european men, and have always been. Why isnt this causing 200+ postings? I think the bigger issues are not getting enough attention. Why are Natives still mistreated? It certainly has nothing to do with the fashion world playing dress up. Is it disrespectful? Absolutely. Period. The same goes for any cultural minority, why is the mistreatment still there? Blaming it on the insensitivity of morons who think its cool to dress up as someone sacred is too big of a pill to swallow. I just can’t get past the fact that there are more serious issues that go un-noticed by the general public. Insensitivty will always be around, that will never change. There are still major atrocities committed every day against minorities. Racism and appropriaton go so much deeper than this and I never see this as a major topic in the news. I am multi cultural comprised of samoan, czech, german, and cherokee. I know what its like to be disrespected and have people say insensitive things. My great grandfather was Cherokee but he was adopted by a white family so any heritage I would have had is not there.
They’re beautiful, respectful photos with fairly accurate fashion-interpretation of traditional dress, not offensive, imo. The only one that I think is is the girl with her hand on her crotch.
I think– especially outside the US– American Indians are seen as a beautiful culture, these photos seem to revere them, not diminish them.
This is interesting because where I am from (Singapore), this is not considered racist. “Blackface” is. While touching religious costumes are unheard of, it is very common of the locals and even the foreigners, to wear each other’s ethnic costumes during weddings and festivals. We just take it as a beautiful costume with a wonderful heritage behind it. So dressing up in a sari, kebaya, cheongsam, kimono etc is fine. Nonetheless, I’m glad I have the opportunity to learn that this can be considered offensive, so thanks for that 🙂
There is no reason in the world why the show couldn’t hire an Aboriginal Consultant to help style the shoot. Hell, they would probably come for free. Any press is good press and this shoot was styled this way to be controversial and to hype up the show.
If you are ignorant, it is one thing. You cannot expect everyone in the world to know exactly what is considered racist/offensive in the US and what is not. I know some people don’t think that’s always a valid excuse. But surely you cannot magically expect people to know everything. That’s impossible. However I do think Heidi should have known better as someone who has lived in the US for an extended period of time.
Also considering Heidi is from Germany, did you know in Germany it is mandatory for all children to take a field trip to a concentration camp? I was wondering why there were so many school groups when I visited Dachau a few years ago. Germany is very aware of its Nazi past yet I am always hearing Nazi jokes here in the US (that you could not make in Europe ever). “He is such a Nazi about grammar” that kind of thing. it was even the nickname of Bailey’s character on Grey’s Anatomy for awhile. You can’t just toss around the word Nazi in Europe, I’m pretty sure.
As someone who deals with censorship at my job all the time (and it always revolves around American vs. European censorship), I’ve become very aware of what is considered offensive/inappropriate in the US vs what is considered appropriate in Europe. You’d be surprised at the depictions of minorities in European literature (just read any Tintin comic in which TIntin goes abroad. There are Native Americans depicted in the one in which Tintin visits America). It’s not something I agree with since as an American I understand the historical and social implications and I’d like for it to change. It’s just more culturally acceptable in Europe, and I know that doesn’t just make it okay. But this is not a black and white situation. It never is.
Really interesting and thought provoking debate, so thank you to everybody for making me think. As someone from NZ we don’t have the same knowledge / history of slavery or racism that the US does although we have our own experience of colonisation, land wars by the English of the Maori. The NZ govt is going through a long slow process now of addressing many of the grievances of Maori who list their tribal lands in the 19th century but we still have a long way to go.
I think in NZ we have the same issues when sometimes Maori cultural designs are appropriated by others ignorant of their meaning eg I think it was ADiDAS recently who bought out a line of exercise wear covered in Maori tribal designs. Got pulled pretty quickly after the public response. So at least people are starting to recognise it as an issue.
It still confuses me tho if somebody imitates a costume as a sincere homage to /affinity with that culture; what do you guys think?
Yeeaaaaah. I’m pretty sure this falls into the Colossally Bad Idea category.
They are stupid.
I think the pictures are beautiful. People have been appropriating other cultures for as long as mankind has existed. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” It isn’t like they are showing people dressed in Native American outfits doing something offensive. I see it as an appreciation of the beauty of their culture. Why does everything have to be so negative? Also, just because you happen to belong to a group, doesn’t mean that you get to decide how the world acts. If a particular cultural group has something really beautiful or wonderful, of course other people are going to be drawn to it and want to adopt it. That’s what happened with the Maori tattoos. I just don’t see where the negative connotation is in these pictures – why can’t they be seen as a celebration of Native American culture? Would it have been better if all the girls were Native American? If you think so, then we are still trying to separate ourselves by race. I thought the goal was to move away from that, and appreciate each person on their own merits.