Popular 90’s band No Doubt had a bit of a stumble Friday when they committed a cultural faux pax and ended up pulling the video for their latest single from their album “Push and Shove” from YouTube.
In the video for “Looking Hot,” Gwen Stefani and her three band mates – Tony Kanal, Adrian Young and Tom Dumont – play cowboy and Indians in stereotypical costumes offended fans and the Native American community. Stefani, 43, donned a high-fashion version of a traditional Native American headdress while Dumont and Young wore cowboy getups in a mock showdown with Kanal, who also wore stereotypical Native American costume.
The band, after receiving many angry comments on their video on YouTube, opted to pull the video shortly after its release Friday, and issued an apology on their website the next day.
“As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures,” they wrote. “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,” they added. “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.”
