Yesterday for a whopping 24 hours, No Doubt premiered their music video Looking Hot, which is one of my favorite songs off their excellent new album Push & Shove. But before everyone else who diesn't sit on the internet all day could get a chance to feast their eyes on the latest fashions worn by Gwen Stefani and company, the band pulled the video due to complaints.
The video has a Cowboys & Indians theme, which shows Gwen dressed up as a Native American princess who gets tied up by cowboys and gyrates sexually in a teepee. Since the Natrive American community took offense to the video, the band removed the content from YouTube and Vimeo and released an apology, which you can read below...
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. The music that inspired us when we started the band, and the community of friends, family, and fans that surrounds us was built upon respect, unity and inclusiveness. We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video. Being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are.
- No Doubt
I never got around to seeing the video so as someone who is part Native American (my mother's mother is of the Unkechaug tribe) I can't really give my opinion on the video and see if in fact they were offensive in any way. No Doubt have always incorporated different cultural styles in the music and fashion, so i don't think they would ever act malicious in any way towards anyone. I also think if the Native American community is going to cry offense over a music video, they need to have the same beef with movie studios that only want to make movies of Native Americans living in trailer parks or hunting for buffalo in their teepees. I personally feel that No Doubt shouldn't have pulled the video and instead sent out the above letter so that people will know that the video wasn't meant to be offensive. The minute you start compromising your art because someone is offended it is no longer art.
Since we will have to wait for a new and safer video for Looking Hot to come out (hopefully), let's just listen to the song instead.
UPDATE: Just saw the video and I wasn't offended by it at all. In fact, I thought Gwen looked stunning. Check otu the video before it gets pulled below...
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