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Michelle Williams in storm over 'redface' photo shoot
Actress appears in Native American costume and make-up in UK magazine shoot
Michelle Williams has landed herself at the centre of a controversy over a photo shoot for UK magazine AnOther, by appearing in Native American costume.
The star of 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' is shown in a head-dress and wearing make-up which appears to be intended to make her features appear more like those of Native Americans.
[Related story: Donald Trump calls Django Unchained 'a totally racist movie']
Some sections of the media have branded the shoot 'offensive' over Williams appearing in what has been dubbed 'redface'.
Women's culture blog Jezebel has slammed the shoot, heavily questioning its motives, and accusing it of insensitive cultural appropriation.
“Are they endeavouring to capture the spirit of the American Indian Movement (AIM) circa 1973? Is this an ad for the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) or the American Indian College Fund (AICF)?” writes Ruth Hopkins.
“Nope. It's a 33 year old white actress hyping her latest Hollywood project by wearing a cheap costume designed to make her look like she's the member of another race.
“Am I glad that unlike most racist, stereotypical caricatures of American Indians in pop culture today, Michelle is not practically naked? Yes - but just as Blackface is never okay, Redface is never okay. Ever.
“Stop supporting cliché images of American Indians. Racism is racism no matter what era of our history you attempt to portray, or what lens or filter you use.”
There is also an unfortunate link to the extermination of the Native American race in Williams' latest work, as pointed out in the same article.
“Adding insult to injury, Michelle's latest project, 'Oz: The Great and Powerful', is based on the novels of L. Frank Baum. Baum was a white supremacist; a flaming racist who called for the extermination of all American Indians,” she adds, before reprinting a hate-riddled editorial by the author in a South Dakota newspaper.
Fashion blog Refinery29 echoed the sentiments, adding: “What's particularly ridiculous about this photo is that we can't imagine what lofty artistic goal could possibly call for this kind of offence against a people who are still marginalised in many ways today. Whatever it may be, we're not interested.”
It follows similar anger over a recent Victoria's Secret fashion show in which model Karlie Kloss was decked out in underwear, high-heeled moccasins and an Indian headdress.
The company later apologised, as did Kloss, for any offence caused.
