Victoria’s Secret Apologizes For Headdress Racism Controversy

Victoria's Secrets has issued and official apology to all those who were offended by the Native American Headdress Karlie Kloss wore at the recent Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

"We sincerely apologize as we absolutely had no intention to offend anyone," the company said.

Karlie Kloss walked the runway Wednesday night in a leopard print bikini with a fringe-covered heels and lots of turquoise jewelry at the recent Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. This was all fine but her Native American-style headdresses raise a few eyebrows and were criticized for being racist.

"When you see a Lakota chief wearing a full headdress, you know that he was a very honorable man. He was a leader. He did a lot of honorable things for his people," said Michelle Spotted Elk, a Santa Cruz, Calif., woman of mixed heritage whose husband is Lakota. "It also has religious significance. With them, there's not a division between spirituality and their leadership."

Kloss herself posted on Twitter that she was "deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone."

There are been many comments of the company's Facebook page following the event. While some have been supportive, others were more criticizing that the others.

"We have gone through the atrocities to survive and ensure our way of life continues," Navajo Nation spokesman Erny Zah said in an interview Monday. "Any mockery, whether it's Halloween, Victoria's Secret _ they are spitting on us. They are spitting on our culture, and it's upsetting."

Jennie Luna, who is Chicana and Caxcan, that people need to be educated more about Native American cultures and also says that "society largely is ignorant toward indigenous spirituality and doesn't understand what should not be marketed commercially."

"We are people; we're not a fashion statement," Luna said. "We are people who are facing serious issues, and for them to further perpetuate the type of stereotypes and disregard for a community's way of life is unacceptable."