Kenya Moore is apologizing after receiving backlash for wearing a Native American headdress on Sunday’s episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
via: Page Six
“I want to sincerely apologize for inappropriately wearing the Native American headdress as a costume,” she said in a statement to Page Six. “I now realize that this was both disrespectful and insensitive and would never have done it if I had that knowledge and understanding beforehand. I regret it. When you know better, you do better. I am genuinely sorry.”
— KENYA MOORE (@KenyaMoore) March 23, 2021
Bravo was also forced to issue a mea culpa in response to outrage over Moore’s antics on the last weekend’s Halloween-themed episode of the long-running reality show.
“We had hoped it would provide a teachable moment, however in retrospect it is clear that the network did not address this properly given the gravity of the situation,” the network added. “We apologize to both the Native American community and our audience as a whole.”
An activist group called IllumiNative led the charge against Moore and Bravo by writing a lengthy statement on Instagram Monday ripping “costumes that mock Native peoples.”
“We are deeply disturbed by last night’s episode of #RHOA in which @thekenyamoore wore a Native American ‘warrior princess’ costume,” the group said.
“Costumes that mock Native peoples, defame our traditions and cultures, and perpetuate negative stereotypes are racist. ‘Playing Indian’ is a form of mascotry that is not just offensive, it is part of a long history of how Native peoples have been dehumanized.”
The nonprofit initiative, created and led by Native Americans, added that they are “incredibly concerned” that none of the producers or executives at Bravo, Comcast or NBC Universal, Bravo’s parent company, intervened.
Bravo wrote in the post’s comments section that it “aims to have the highest standards of respect and inclusivity” and they “recognize” the recent “RHOA” episode does not “uphold those values.”
A critic of Moore, 50, pointed out that the “Housewife” said in a now-deleted tweet that Native Americans were “part of her heritage,” but added, “I guess she is uneducated in her own ethnicity, culture and stereotypes.”
Moore’s co-stars also called out her out on the show. Drew Sidora said in a confessional interview that the costume was “super problematic” and Porsha Williams added, “I thought we weren’t doing that no more.”
However, fans who came to the reality star’s defense pointed out that other “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast members — including Sidora, 35, and Williams’ sister Lauren Williams — and former “Real Housewives of Potomac” star Monique Samuels have also been guilty of cultural appropriation.
The user tweeted alongside photos of the women in insensitive costumes, “Check these out for @DREWSIDORA @iammrssamuels and @Porsha4real sister Lauren with their native American and Indian costumes. Drew and Porsha had all the time to come for you yet they forgot they had posted these! Team twirl will dig them out!
In April 2018, “Real Housewives of New York” star Luann de Lesseps was forced to issue her own apology after she wore dark makeup on her skin for a Diana Ross costume.
“I was being an impersonator for Halloween,” the Countess explained at the time. “I didn’t mean to offend anyone by being Diana Ross for Halloween, it just didn’t even kind of enter my mind … I wasn’t at all worried about that, and all of a sudden it became a thing. I’m so sorry. I don’t want it to be a thing, so I apologize if I have offended.”
Kenya didn’t seem to have bad intentions with the costume, but she took ownership and apologized.
