‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Kenya Moore on Tuesday apologized for wearing a feathered headdress as a costume on Sunday’s episode, which was labeled by Native American activists as a ‘racist’ example of ‘playing Indian’.
“I would like to sincerely apologize for wearing the Native American headdress inappropriately as a costume,” she said in a statement to Page Six. “I now realize that this was both disrespectful and insensitive and I never would have done it if I had had that knowledge and understanding beforehand. I regret it. When you know better, you do better. I’m sincerely sorry. “
Bravo was also forced to issue a mea culpa in response to outrage over Moore’s antics during last weekend’s Halloween-themed episode of the long-running reality show.
“We had hoped it would be a learning opportunity, but in retrospect it is clear that the network has not handled this properly given the gravity of the situation,” the network added. “We apologize to the Native American community as well as to our public as a whole.”
An activist group called IllumiNative led the charges against Moore and Bravo by writing a lengthy statement on Instagram on Monday in which they “tore up costumes mocking indigenous 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 indigenous peoples, slander our traditions and cultures, and perpetuate negative stereotypes are racist. ‘Playing Indians’ is a form of mascot that is not only offensive, but is also part of a long history of how indigenous peoples have been dehumanized. “
The nonprofit initiative, founded and led by Indians, 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 comments section of the post that it “strives for the highest standards of respect and inclusivity” and that they “recognize” that 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 Indians were ‘part of her heritage’ but added, ‘I think she’s uneducated in her own ethnicity, culture and stereotypes. . “
Moore’s co-stars also called her on the show. Drew Sidora said in a confession that the costume was “super problematic” and Porsha Williams added, “I thought we didn’t do that anymore.”
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 also were guilty. of cultural appropriation.
The user has tweeted next to pictures of the women in insensitive costumes: “Check this out for @DREWSIDORA @iammrssamuels and @ Porsha4real sister Lauren in their Native American and Indian costumes. Drew and Porsha had plenty of time to come and get you, but they forgot they posted these! Team Twirl will dig them out!
In April 2018, Luann de Lesseps, star of Real Housewives of New York, was forced to apologize for herself after wearing dark makeup on her skin for a Diana Ross costume.
“I was a Halloween impersonator,” the Countess explained at the time. “I didn’t want to offend anyone by being Diana Ross for Halloween, it just didn’t even cross my mind… I wasn’t worried about that at all, and all of a sudden it became something. I’m very sorry. I don’t want it to be anything so I apologize if I got offended. “