Victoria's Secret apologizes for Native American-inspired look at fashion show

Karlie Kloss walks the runway during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on Nov. 7, 2012, in New York.

/ Getty

Victoria's Secret has apologized over a Native American-inspired look worn at its annual fashion show, and says it will pull the ensemble from the event's upcoming TV broadcast.

Model Karlie Kloss walked the runway during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last week in an ensemble that included a feathered headdress, turquoise jewelry and a fringed belt.

• Pictures: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2012
• Pictures: Backstage at the Victoria's Section Fashion Show
• Rihanna, Bieber and Angels rock Victoria's Secret catwalk

The look, which Stylite notes was meant to represent Thanksgiving, sparked criticism from consumers and Native American groups.

Native Appropriations, a blog focused on "documenting images of Indigenous peoples, languages and cultures in every day life," wrote: "Besides the daily harm of these ongoing microaggressions for Native folks, the sexualization of Native women continues to be an ignored and continuing epidemic."

"This isn't 'fun,' this isn't a 'fantasy' character. This is about our cultures, our bodies, and our lives," the post continued. "Native people demand and deserve far more respect than this."

Victoria's Secret apologized in a statement released Saturday via its Facebook page.

"We are sorry that the Native American headdress replica used in our recent fashion show has upset individuals," the statement said. "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."

Kloss also issued an apology of her own on Twitter:

I am deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone. I support VS's decision to remove the outfit from the broadcast.

-- Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) November 11, 2012

The controversy came just days after No Doubt pulled its music video for the song "Looking Hot" after complaints from the Native American community. The band apologized, saying, "Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history."

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show will air on Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

[LHicks50]

I don't usually read or respond to these comments, but was curious as to why there was not a November calendar girl when there is so much to represent in November. First let me say that I, in no way, shape or form, believe that it was any way meant to mis-represent, or belittle the American Indian heritage in any way when they chose to use the Indian headdress on their model. I think that they could have chosen many other ideas to represent Thanksgiving (turkeys, pilgrims, fall leaves, etc.) but they chose to show the beauty of the American Indian wardrobe. Since the Indians were a huge part in how and why we celebrate Thanksgiving I think their representation was appropriate and very beautiful. While you are saying "forgive them father, they know not what they do", you are not forgiving. You are holding on to hate and bitterness that in the end will only effect you. Sometimes you have to look at the beauty in things and not look for what you think it might represent. Karlie Koss you have nothing to apologize for, you did nothing wrong. You were doing your job and doing it well. You do not create nor choose what the designers choose for you to wear. Although you probably have a choice to wear a costume or not, your decision was right. I thought the show was a great success and I enjoyed it very much. Don't bother responding on my behalf because I will not be reading it. Just felt the need to respond to the vicious attacks on VS and Karlie Koss.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

We were once were very beautiful in everyway, and still are, try over looking every battle wound and scar.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

I AM A NORTHERN ARAPAHO ON MY MOTHERS SIDE AND DENE ON MY FATHERS SIDE. I AM FROM THE WIND RIVER RESERVATION IN THE STATE OF WYOMING. ALL I'VE EVER KNOWN IS BEING NATIVE AMERICAN IN A PRETTY ROUGH WAY SINCE I AM A PRODUCT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO NATIVE AMERICANS FROM GENOCIDE OF COURSE TO CHILDREN IN CHATHOLIC SCHOOLS BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED, BUT NOT AS MUCH OF A PRODUCT OF WHAT A NATIVE AMERICAN REALLY TRUELY IS. I BEEN THRU HAVING ALCOHOL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, DRUG ABUSE IN MY FAMILY ALL THIS CORUPTION COMING FROM A CYCLE THAT WAS SET FOR US, TO BEING STRONG AND PRAYING TO CREATOR "THRU" JESUS CHRIST TO HELP US TO BE A GOOD PEOPLE. THATS ALL. WE ARE HELPING YOU HELP YOUSELF BY ASKING YOU TO JUST LET US BE. IF YOU DIDNT WANT US TO EXIST WHY ARE YOU STEALING EVERYTHING WE HAVE?, TURNING IT INTO WHAT WE CALL WRONG. FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. EVERYTHING COMES DOWN TO KARMA.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

For Karlie Kloss, if you were for real sorry, you wouldnt have done it in the first place honey. Thats what you call concience that what most people lack when it comes to lies.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

wouldnt you consider that as "Native American" trademark???? wheres our percentage??? since your apologies are so insincere:)

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

i take that back im pretty sure no native would want to take credit for something like that.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

father, forgive them for they know not what they do, even when it means wearing an attire as skimpy as u can get it, to disrespect a people that have so much respect for the material and beleifs that are very sacred to them then seeing it in a horrific way in the media. Wheres the love, more like fipped and basically, plain and simple ignorant and EVIL... I AM INDIGINEOUS, by the way. Just us huh? u would dare do that to any other religion or beleif thanks for ur fake apolgies lol o sorry for being offended???...

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

got no respect for english language either, it is the only way to communicate with the world to get ur point accross.

[rather_not_Dan]

Funny VS had to apologize while their show is broadcasted by CBS who they themselves support racists comedy. By that I mean I watched the first night of the show with the 2 stupid waitresses. As the show went along
they made a joke about a Japanese guy - employee or customer I don't remember which but it went something along the line of " don't upset those
people as they will go out back and commit Hari-Kari". She might as well have said "skip the menu just bring those black customers fried chicken and you know what for desert". If I were Japanese-American I would have
been offended but CBS being a liberal self-serving network can do what it wants.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

NOT WHEN YOUNG INDIAN COUNRTY IS SEEING ALL OF THIS, DONT YOU THINK? I MEAN LITERALLY DONT YOU THINK??

[soniesue]

KMA Smith: I'm Irish. When do I get to complain about The Quite Man, Jigs, and River Dance degrading and stereotyping my ethnic heritage?

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

...why would u want to????... its not cool or something. wth? I guess so if you think being dissrespected is what you like.

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

THATS RIGHT, THATS WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO LIKE, MORE POWER TO YOU JUST KNOW CREATOR IS WATCHING YOU, MAY JESUS BE WITH YOU AND YOUR THOUGHTS.

[concernedlakota]

A lot of people keep saying "get over it... the past is the past" but I challenge them to think for a moment and consider the following:

So who is getting off on this? Who gets "screwed" by whom and who makes out like a bandit?

Victoria's Secret is pimping prostitutes, basically. "A prostitute is an object of degraded and victimized sexual value for use and exchange through the medium of money."

Take it a step further and throw in cultural theft then basically you have the degradation of a culture under corporate "tourism".

Example: "For a price, everything in Hawaii can be yours! (you, the tourist, the non-native) The place, the people, the culture and even our identity as "Native" people is for sale. Therefore, Hawaii, like the lovely woman, is there for the taking."

American women are getting pimped off by corporations such as Victoria's Secret and let's say, Hooters who also recently had Indian Dress Up Day--but unlike Native people, they have not yet awoken to the reality.

This is why its NOT the past. It is just a different form of colonialism and gender violence. Once it was a government taking the land and appropriating the cultures. Now it is certain corporations doing the same thing to all of the women and wrecking the environment and social structures in the process.

How is this considered a positive contribution to our society?

[whatthefisgoingonhere]

If you havnt noticed.. negitive is the new positive the younger are getting older and the older are trying to be younger. ridiculous??? not to dominant society not at all... u go botox boheimian! u go... please. tired of this mistreatment already.

[mesquakiefox0]

If you support a broader awareness and respect for cultures other than your own, then you're welcome here. If you're happy to see that in spite of hundreds of years of genocide and blatant disrespect for the lives and culture of the many indigenous people, we can express ourselves through our fashion and not loose our Native American identity because we're not wearing a war bonnet, then your presence is appreciated. But if you don't get why this blog is here or want to try to prove your superior understanding of "The Native American condition," please do so up your ass.