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Victoria’s Secret apologizes about American Indian outfit

The lingerie giant is apologizing after an outfit that debuted in their annual fashion show last week caused controversy.

By Kim Anne Nov 12, 2012 7:11PM

Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
According to the Telegraph, numerous complaints arose across the globe after the lingerie company debuted an American Indian headdress look by model Karlie Kloss during their fashion show in New York last week.

The company will remove the look from their December 4th broadcast and they posted this message on their Facebook page: "We are sorry that the American Indian headdress replica used in our recent fashion show has upset individuals. We sincerely apologize as we absolutely had no intention to offend anyone. Out of respect, we will not be including the outfit in any broadcast, marketing materials nor in any other way." The apology has already received over 10,000 Likes and Karlie Kloss also apologized on her personal Twitter page.

Native Appropriations posted this on their blog: "The frustrating thing is this comes on the heels of the No Doubt "Looking Hot" controversy, where the band pulled their music video within a day of it being released because of the use of extremely stereotypical and offensive Native imagery and a huge outcry from the Native (and ally) community. That happened like last weekend. As in less than 7 days ago. And NOBODY at Victoria's Secret saw one of the hundreds of articles about No Doubt and thought, hm, maybe we shouldn't include a woman in a headdress and a fake buckskin bikini? And the bikini. Can we talk about the bikini? I love the inclusion of the leopard. Why don't we just go full-on generic "savage" while we're at it. As one of my witty FB followers reminded us, "They say Native Americans used every part of the leopard." Ha. But serious eyeroll on that choice. Not to mention the fake turquoise/Navajo/southwest jewelry with a plains headdress. LOL, all indigenous pplz, they r teh samez. Snark aside, there is a bigger issue here. Besides the daily harm of these ongoing microaggressions for Native folks, the sexualization of Native women continues to be an ignored and continuing epidemic."

Bing: See more Victoria's Secret controversies

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Would you wear jean sandal boots?
Plus-size models may boost body image 
The 5 craziest looks from the Victoria's Secret fashion show

 Tell us: Were you offended by this Victoria’s Secret costume?

Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

976Comments
Nov 12, 2012 11:36PM
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No wonder the US is goin to hell. The country is full of whiney-spineless pussies who get offfended at the drop of a hat. Grow up, really...I wonder if those who complain have any lives at all. What a joke!
Nov 12, 2012 11:36PM
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I am native american, i think i could rock that costume better than her! lol they should apologize for using such a tacky fake bikini, i like the head dress though! LELELELELELELELE!!
Nov 12, 2012 11:35PM
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this country apoligizes for everything. whimps
Nov 12, 2012 11:35PM
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haha, "outcry from the Native (and ally) community" i bet most of the "ALLY" are non native americans that claim 1 in 24th cherokee blood speaking for us native americans, i find it sexy and complementing to our culture, shows a brighter positive side, and great ideas to boost a greater relationship in our intamacy in my teepee with my sweetie :-)
Nov 12, 2012 11:35PM
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Hell no.My grandmothercan and mother were Cherokee and were proud of it. The fact that Amerian Indians hava not faded into oblivion like som many other cultures and customs is great. I think peopleare tooooooo ready to jump on the racist, I'm offended band wagon that it is rediculious. It seems that no matter what you do the possibility exists that you might offend somebody.  This is no way to run a society that everybody is walking on egg shells for fear of possibly offending someone.

 

As a Black, part Indian person I am glad to be remembered as an original part of this country and a key piece of the history of this country and the mistakes that were made so that they are not repeated again. I am so tired that everytime a company or person says or does something somebody comes out of the woodwork talking about they are offended. Come on they need to get a life and stop looking for reasons to be offended.

Nov 12, 2012 11:35PM
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Seems like a funny way to sell skivvies.  Controversy is the best publicity.  VS knew what they werre doing--

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You can thank the Demorats who like to please everyone....especially a "minority" as they depend on them for votes.  Ah don't you love what America has become?

 

A better depiction would have been a woman in a floor casino "outfit"....just sayin.

Nov 12, 2012 11:35PM
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Victoria did something very stupid and callas. Why don't they dress a model up in a Pope's Miter?  How about a Muslim hijab?  Jewish yamika?  Have a African put a bone through their nose.... "Hey, they're just Indian savages, we stole their land, let's just trash their culture as well".  Very stupid and callas...
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