Don’t.
That’s the free advice we’re giving every celebrity contemplating the appropriation of anyone else’s culture — whether it be for a photo shoot, a music video, a live performance, or even just a Halloween party you thought would be papparazi-free.
Why would you EVER even do it??? At best you fly under the radar and no one comments on your awkward decision or lame joke. At worst you offend the ENTIRE WORLD!
So, again, just don’t.
Unfortunately, neither Pharrell nor the editors of Elle asked our opinion before slapping a Native American headdress on the Get Lucky megastar and putting the offensive picture smack-dab on the cover of their super popular fashion magazine!
Predictably, the world is OUTRAGED by their awful and totally insensitive choice of images.
In fact, backlash got so bad that even the Happy singer’s own fans have tweeted disappointed messages at him with the hashtag “#NotHappy.”
Here are just a few of the tweets that expressed outrage:
I'm seriously disappointed in @Pharrell for wearing a war bonnet on the cover of @ELLEmagazine
#nothappy pic.twitter.com/bJJjutbdht
— Ashley Mocosa (@mocosamoments) June 4, 2014
Seriously? A whole magazine staff & @pharrell's handlers thought this was a good idea? http://t.co/mtDAd578gI via @IndianCountry #nothappy
— Quinn MacDonald (@quinnmacdonald) June 4, 2014
Urgh. Why does the fashion industry insist on turning sacred cultural items into fashion props? #NOTHappy @ELLEUK pic.twitter.com/pcjFER2bVe
— Aparna Balakumar (@OnceAPARNATime) June 4, 2014
Is Pharrell remoreseful? Well, technically, we guess.
But he didn’t record a heartfelt video message for his fans or even hit up Twitter to atone for his ill-advised headgear — he instead released a generic apology through his publicist on Wednesday!
It said:
├óΓé¼┼ôI respect and honor every kind of race, background and culture. I am genuinely sorry.”
Ugh. We imagine everyone who lost respect for him over the Elle cover was looking for something a little more weighty.
Then again, the folks at Elle seem to be falling on the sword (or the tomahawk axe, as it were.)
They say they “persuaded” him:
“[W]e persuaded ELLE Style Award winner Pharrell to trade his Vivienne Westwood mountie hat for a native American feather headdress in his best ever shoot.”
Regardless of whose idea the headdress was, ALL parties should’ve known better!
Are U still mad at Pharrell for appropriating Native American culture?? Let us know (below)…
[Image via Elle.]