No Doubt has never been particularly controversial but it is at the center of a media storm. American Indians say the band's new "Looking Hot" video is racist.
Debuting on YouTube last Friday, it is a satirical take on and old-fasioned Western, featuring cowboys and -- you guessed it -- Indians, and the images have many people up in arms.
In the video, lead singer Gwen Stefani plays an Indian princess who is captured by cowboys. The cast is dressed in stereotypical garb -- headdresses, beads, carrying spears, etc.
As soon as it hit the net, fans in the Native Community began to complain. I totally understand their gripe. Stereotypes are incredibly annoying at best and demeaning and insulting at worst. It reminds me of the Italian American community’s response when the Sopranos first debuted on HBO. Many felt that it fed into the idea that all Italians were in the mob or linked to organize crime. Then came the Jersey Shore cast. No one wanted people to think they represented average, everyday, Italian folk.
That's not the only cultural group dealing with images they don't appreciate of a culture on TV. I cringe every time I watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta and Basketball Wives. I always think, "I hope people aren't too dumb to realize we are not all like that." Despite all the uproar, none of these shows ever went anywhere -- nor should they have. It's silly entertainment pure and simple. And I can't imagine that No Doubt had any nefarious, mean-spirited intentions. In fact, the band (which includes Stefani, Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont) said they consulted with "Native American friends" when coming up with the concept.
They explained in a statement on their website:
"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."
It's clear that the band did not mean to hurt anyone. From what I could see of the clip, it was a very dramatic-yet-kitschy take on a western. It seemed no way near as insulting as some of those big screen westerns that are still being produced. Again, I understand the criticism and all fans deserve a voice when they don't like something. I just have to question whether pulling the video from the Internet was really necessary.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Do you think the video is racist?
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 6
it's 2012 - someone will find something offensive about everything. i don't think it's racist when you portray history. did Native Americans wear headdress' and use spears as weapons? why yes, yes they did. was there fighting between cowboys and Native Americans over land, materials and people? yes, there were.
the thing is, it's something in our past. there's lots of racist stuff in our past, because as a nation we've grown from it. does that mean we should stop teaching history?
Would have killed the music group to hire some native american actors for the video, just to lend some authenticity to it? Gwen still could have been an "indian princess". In some tribes, who faught the whites, they took hostages and eventually made them part of the tribe. A lot stayed, had mates and families.
But that aside... It is just a silly video with actors playing dress up. The old westerns that the music video was emulating didn't use native american actors either. Most of the "indians" were white actors in black wigs and bronze make up.