Pharrell’s latest debut on the cover of Elle’s UK July 2014 edition has steered up major controversy. Why? Well apparently the Native American community is highly offended about him wearing a feathered headdress. Instead of wearing his trademark: Vivienne Westwood Mountie hat, he was suggested to wear a Native American feather headdress. Twitter was going viral with the hashtag “#NotHappy” trending about his cover.
The Washington Post made it known that speculations about the headdress idea came from ELLE’s magazine staff. “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 blurb ElleUk.com released is now removed and no further statements have been put out in reference to this.
The feathered headdress is strongly associated with chiefs and warriors. Each feather is added by an act of bravery. They are usually worn by the most powerful. The feathered headdress is held with very high standards and of course not to be used as anything other than that.
In all honesty, should people really be that upset with Pharrell and not the staff in charge of the shoot? Whether it is true that ELLE staff styled Pharrell, this cover is indeed powerful. Despite the colorful ELLE letters, that dance along the top of the Cover, the photo of Pharrell is in fact artistically impressive. The angle of his face and the lightening give a brief look at a timeless profile of Pharrell.
It is an obtrusive fact why the Native American community would feel offended, but is this on Pharrell or the magazine itself?
Pharrell recently released a statement apologizing to those offended. “I respect and honor every kind of race, background and culture. I am genuinely sorry.”
