May 21, 2024

Pharrell’s Native American Headdress Sparks Backlash

People are #NotHappy with Pharrell today.

The producer/singer appears on a special edition July cover of Elle UK wearing a Native American headdress, and the backlash hit Twitter on Wednesday (June 4). Some users are opposing the photo, taken by Doug Inglish, arguing that “headdresses are not costumes.”

pharrell

According to Indian Country Today Media Network , Elle.com posted on it’s website: “We persuaded ELLE Style Award winner Pharrell to trade his Vivienne Westwood mountie hat for a native American feather headdress in his best ever shoot.” The Vivienne Westwood hat is in reference to the stylish hat the “Happy” singer has been sporting since Grammy night.

Elle.com has since taken down that quote, now saying only, “Continuing our tradition of featuring cult male icons on collector’s edition covers we persuaded ELLE Style Award winner Pharrell to collaborate with us on his best ever shoot.”

Pharrell, who has reportedly said that he has Native American ancestry has nevertheless stirred up controversy.

Users also started the hashtag #nothappy to vent that this pic is not only disrespectful, but a display of cultural appropriation.

About the author  ⁄ Christina Garibaldi

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