Natives protest at Flaming Lips concert

Native American Rights Group Protests the Flaming Lips at Waterfront Park

Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry also plans to protest Ted Nugent at Portland Expo Center on Tuesday.

By Matthew SingerThe free Flaming Lips concert at Waterfront Park last night drew more than just fans of the psychedelic rock veterans: A small group of activists were also in attendance, protesting the band over incidents involving frontman Wayne Coyne and the appropriation of Native American iconography.

Spearheaded by the national organization Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry, about 20 protestors gathered near the venue's entrance, brandishing signs reading "Culture Is Not a Costume" and "You Still Owe Us An Apology" and handing out photos from Coyne's Instagram account of a dog and friends wearing feather headdresses.

"We wanted to make a statement, and make it clear we haven't forgotten," says Jacqueline Keeler, founder of EONM, which recently led a protest outside a Flaming Lips show in the band's native Oklahoma. In April, the group also protested outside Nike headquarters in Beaverton, demanding the company stop selling merchandise emblazoned with the Cleveland Indians' Chief Wahoo logo. "Basically, we want to hold accountable anyone who appropriates our culture and shows genuine disrespect to our people."BAD DAYS: The aftermath of the Portland Flaming Lips protest

By Louis Fowler"The mood was upbeat and the energy strong in a good way. Jacqueline had it well organized,” Creel said.

“Personally, I am frustrated that we are in 2014 still teaching what racial/cultural good manners are. I saw a lot of frowns from the people but also so curiosity expressed. When I held up my sign, "Lips Frontman Wayne Coyne disrespects Native Americans”, there were a few nods of understanding.”

The mood inside, however, wasn’t as welcoming.

First, the Flaming Lips were introduced by acolyte (and former Saturday Night Live errand boy) Fred Armisen (Portlandia), who had quietly come under fire from Natives in the past for his “hipster-racism” comedy stylings, most notably for his Native comedian character featured on Weekend Update, Billy Smith, which was basically three to five minutes of the laziest Indian stereotypes thrown together to get cheap laughs from the cooler-than-thou SNL audience.

But, even more egregiously, protesters Luis Figueroa and his brother made their way into the concert with signs, upon which eyewitnesses say—and live video shows—that Lips fans not only taunted them with various slurs and insults, but also grabbed the signs out of their hands and destroyed them. Security then conveniently escorted the brothers out.

Why were the Flaming Lips protested? Native American activists speak out

By David GreenwaldAt the Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Sunday night, across the bowl from the venue’s VIP entrance, a handful of activists held signs protesting Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne. Two of them made it inside, one holding up his message—“Culture is not a costume”—even as Coyne rolled over him in his crowd-surfing bubble. According to Jeff Ward, an attendee at the show with his family, the peaceful protester was verbally abused by the audience around him before the abuse escalated: they tore apart his sign before he was removed from the area by event security at the MLS All-Star event.

"I was not proud of my fellow concert-goers abusing this guy like that," Ward said. The sign-tearing moment was captured on video by the MLS broadcast (pictured below). "He was doing what we’re supposed to do in this country and he was vilified for it.”

I saw a second protester, holding a green sign, escorted out of the audience by security as well, and an MLS representative did not respond to a Sunday night request for comment.

Why were they there? It’s a long story, but in the short version, Kliph Scurlock, the Lips’ former drummer, stirred up controversy in May after claiming he was fired for criticizing Christina Fallin—a friend of Coyne’s and the daughter of Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin. The younger Fallin had posted an Instagram photo of herself in a Native American headdress, leading Coyne to post a photo himself with three people and a dog wearing a headdress. Fallin’s also in a band, Pink Pony, which reportedly mocked Native Americans at the Norman Music Festival as Coyne watched.Coyne apologized, then brought out a man in a headdress on-stage, leading to this response:“Native people pretty much regard it as a faux apology,” Jacqueline Keeler of activist organization EONM told me on Twitter after Sunday’s show, though she was under the impression that Coyne himself had worn a headdress. She organized Sunday’s protest, and in our interview on the grounds, she explained that the headdress played an important symbolic role in her culture.

“It’s not meant to be used to wear at a music festival. It's not meant to be worn in a light-hearted way," she said. “It’s really a sign of the head of state of our nation. It’s completely inappropriate to be used that way, particularly without any knowledge of our culture or even desiring any knowledge of our culture.”And more broadly, why these protests will continue:Thanks in part to social media, American culture has shifted quickly in recent years as marginalized groups assert themselves more publicly, leaving many artists—from Coyne to Katy Perry to Miley Cyrus to Iggy Azalea—under fire seemingly every week over questions of appropriation or discriminatory behavior. It’s not just race or culture: online pressure led to Rick Ross being dropped from Reebok in 2013 after rapping about date rape, lyrics he later called “one of my biggest mistakes and regrets.”

In short, behavior that musicians and celebrities once routinely got away with—Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku dancers, for one, never inspired a trending topic—has become unacceptable.American Indians Protest Flaming Lips Lead Singer Wayne Coyne for Disrespecting Regalia & Attacks on Native People

Comment:  I didn't know about the Fred Armisen connection. Somehow it's not surprising that a comedian who does ethnic shtick would be a Wayne Coyne supporter.

For more on the Christina Fallin controversy, see Fallin Suffers Fallout from Stereotyping and Scurlock Explains Flaming Lips Firing.

Coyne presents man in headdress

WAYNE'S WORLD: Native American appropriation continues unabated

By Louis FowlerThis weekend, hundreds of Native Americans gathered in Oklahoma City for the historic Red Earth Festival, celebrating not only Native history, but Native futures as well.

Meanwhile, at the Wakarusa Festival on Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas, hundreds of mostly Caucasian hipsters, many in mocking Native headdresses themselves, gathered as Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne continued his “artistic” assault on the American Indian by having a man dressed in Native regalia on-stage.

The Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, featuring four days of music and activities for people of all ages, has gained in popularity, especially for Oklahomans, considering how close it is to the Sooner State.

While eyewitness reports have been scattered, the most consistent anecdotes from attendees have been that this was all part of an on-stage wedding. Why the male needed to be in the warbonnet to be married is still anyone’s guess, but what is perhaps the most perplexing question to many Natives who’ve seen the photos is, if Coyne was serious about his label-mandated Rolling Stone apology (and many activists believe he truly wasn’t), why would he continue to add fuel to an already raging fire by allowing something like this on-stage?

The reaction from Indigenous activists on Twitter and Facebook has been one of continued hurt, disappointment and burgeoning anger, while many fans of the offensive rockers continue to defend the antics of the crackpot Coyne and crew under the guise of “art.”

“Maybe Coyne thinks he is the only one that can disrespect Natives and be the best at it? I don't know, but his apathy and lies know no bounds,” civil rights activist Jennie Stockle posted on social media. “I'm sure he will claim ‘innocence’ by blaming the headdress being on stage with him on that person wearing it. However, it is HIS show and knowing full well how Native Americans feel, he could have not allowed it to be on stage. He could have easily forbid it during his performance. The truth is he didn't give a second thought to the example he set to his young fans or harm he is doing to Native Americans and their honored family members.”

“Folks, Wayne Coyne is a liar and has now commonly engaged in racism against Native Americans to boost his own name-infamously so,” she added.Comment:  For more on the subject, see Fallin Suffers Fallout from Stereotyping and Coyne Apologizes for Dog Headdress.

Fallin suffers fallout from stereotyping

People are still talking about Christina Fallin's headdress and "sheep" shawl incidents. Some tidbits from a long article:

Does He Realize? Protesters Not Satisfied With Wayne Coyne's Apology

By Wilhelm MurgCoyne distanced himself from Fallin and Pink Pony in the interview by denouncing the band’s music as “stupid” and while Fallin has insisted from the beginning that she never intended to offend Native Americans, Coyne contradicts her and corroborates what the Native American protestors have said all along, that Fallin and Pink Pony were taunting the protesters.

“I thought [Pink Pony] making fun of the protestors seemed stupid,” Coyne was quoted as saying. “And I just thought, ‘Why don't you just go out there and play your music, tell them you're sorry and play some cool music, and that would be what the festival is about?’ And Pink Pony handled it badly.”And:Coyne also seems to be saying that he just happened to be laughing while Native American people were being taunted in public, but he was not laughing at them, he was just generally having a good time during the taunting. “Yes,” Coyne was quoted, “I was at the festival. People probably saw me laugh. I took pictures with probably 500 people that night. I'm laughing in probably all the pictures.”

“I, myself, had eye contact with Wayne; he and his little girlfriend were laughing and pointing at us,” said protester and former Flaming Lips fan, Louis Fowler. Fowler, who is Choctaw, was there as a journalist covering the protest, but decided the situation was too overwhelming to remain impartial and picked up a sign and joined the protesters. “You come face to face with someone you respected and who you wasted so much money on between concerts and albums. For him to do that--it was really heartbreaking.”And:“I pretty much believe [Fallin's boyfriend] Steven Battles is the mastermind behind all of this, and Christina Fallin--and you can quote me on this--Christina Fallin is like his dumb little automaton that does what he says," Louis Fowler said. “In the interview she did with Indian Country Today she had ample opportunity to apologize and speak her own mind, but she sounds like a brainwashed cult victim. When she was referring to Steven Battles as a 'philosopher' she sounded like she might as well be drinking the Kool-Aid at Jonestown.”

The Lost Ogle, an Oklahoma City information site, is reporting that Battles’ radio show for Oklahoma City’s “The Spy” has been canceled. The Pink Pony Facebook page has been taken down and the Oklahoma City fashion and beauty magazine So6ix has severed its ties with Fallin, who was working with the publication as a media consultant, according to the site.And:Louis Fowler says he will definitely continue this protest. “My greatest resource, my greatest talent is my writing, so I’ll use that and I’ll use whatever means I can. I never realized what a significant problem this is in our state. It’s been one of the most heartbreaking and soul draining things I’ve ever encountered in my life.”

“I think Wayne Coyne and Christina Fallin operate in a tower so tall they can't even see where their arrows are landing,” Samantha Crain said. “It is possible that my next move may be another protest. As long as they hold the beliefs that they do, I don't believe there is much forgiveness from the Native community to be had. ... However, if they want to read some books, interact with some tribal members, and take steps towards understanding and respecting the culture, then speak more about how their attitudes have changed, that, I think, would be grounds to supporting them, and forgiving them. I think they keep dragging it out because their lack of knowledge and understanding really convinces them that they've done nothing wrong.”Comment:  Nice to hear Fallin, Battles, and Pink Pony are suffering for their effrontery. Maybe they shouldn't tangle with dedicated activists in the social media age, eh?

For more on Christina Fallin, see Coyne Apologizes for Dog Headdress and Scurlock Explains Flaming Lips Firing.

Below:  "Photo of Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp-Muhl tweeted by Lennon to Wayne Coyne. Source: twitter.com/seanonolennon via The Lost Ogle."

Coyne apologizes for dog headdress

Wayne Coyne Apologizes to Natives, Calls Fallin's Behavior 'Stupid'In an interview with Rolling Stone, Wayne Coyne of psychedelic alt-rock band the Flaming Lips has addressed the controversy over his friend Christina Fallin's cultural insensitivity and the firing of drummer Kliph Scurlock, which Scurlock says resulted from his criticism of Fallin.

Regarding the picture of the dog in a headdress that he posted to Instagram, Coyne initially gives a non-apology apology, saying "I regret that some people took it wrong," and that the dog had the headdress on "for the same reasons that Gwen Stefani or anybody else would wear it, because it's cool-looking." But--credit where credit's due--he followed those less-than-satisfying comments with this:

I understand now that if I'm a spokesperson for any kind of behavior, I shouldn't have done it, and I regret doing it now. I am sorry. I realize now that it goes deeply to the heart of some Native Americans. And I definitely regret it.

Coyne also discussed the performance of Fallin's band, Pink Pony, at the Norman Music Festival. "I thought [Pink Pony] making fun of the protestors seemed stupid," he said. "I thought their attitude was wrong. And I just thought, 'Why don't you just go out there and play your music, tell them you're sorry and play some cool music, and that would be what the festival is about?' And Pink Pony handled it badly. I agree with all that."

The interview otherwised focused on Coyne's issues with Scurlock, with the Flaming Lips' frontman calling his ex-drummer a "hateful pathological liar."Wayne Coyne Apologises For Posting Native American-headdress Photos Online

By WennCoyne, meanwhile, wrote a message of support for Fallin online, posting images of friends and a dog wearing head-dresses.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the singer admits he was wrong to poke fun at Native Americans.

He says, "That was never our intention, and I realise now that it goes deeply to the heart of some Native Americans. I definitely regret it.

"I would say that I'm very sorry, to anybody that is following my Instagram or my Twitter, if I offended anybody of any religion, any race, any belief system. I would say you shouldn't follow my tweets; you shouldn't even probably want to be a Flaming Lips fan because we don't really have any agenda. We go about doing things through our imagination. And I would say that if we wrongly stepped on anybody's sacredness, then we're sorry about that. That was never our intention... I shouldn't have done it, and I regret doing it now. I am sorry."Wayne Coyne Responds to Firing of Drummer Kliph Scurlock

Wayne Coyne Slams Ex-Flaming Lips Drummer as 'Pathological Liar'

Wayne Coyne on Kliph Scurlock's Flaming Lips Exit: "He Knows We Struggled with Him for Years"

Comment:  Finally, someone offers a genuine apology.

For more on Christina Fallin, see Scurlock Explains Flaming Lips Firing and Fallin Defends Headdress, "Sheep" Shawl.

Scurlock explains Flaming Lips firing

More on Christina Fallin, the governor's daughter in a headdress. First, some background on Fallin and her friend Wayne Coyne:

The Fallin Fallout: Festival, Riverwind, and Mom All Issue Statements

By Wilhelm MurgThe one supporter Fallin does have is Oklahoma City resident Wayne Coyne, the leader of pop group The Flaming Lips. Rumors that Coyne fired the band’s drummer, Kliph Scurlock, due to Scurlock’s criticism of Fallin posting a picture of herself wearing a faux-native American headdress in March were confirmed. “I was fired for telling Christina to go fuck herself after her lame-ass 'apology' when people got upset at her stupid headdress photo," Scurlock wrote in a statement to ICTMN. "That happened in mid-March. I wasn't anywhere around during the performance [at Norman Music Festival] the other night."

Coyne went on to post pictures of his friends and his dog wearing a faux-Native American headdress in apparent solidarity with Fallin. His actions are causing a lot of debate on social media in Oklahoma, where Coyne is a major figure in a music scene heavily populated by people with Native American heritage and connections.

One such person in that debate is Drew McKenna, a local Native American radio personality in Tulsa, “Christina needs to get an anthropology degree,” McKenna said.

“Even someone like myself, who has Native American blood, I don’t necessarily look at a headdress and think ‘that’s a sacred object to me,’ but I respect that there are some people who feel that way,” McKenna said. “When we look back at our parents’, and our grandparents’, and our great grandparents’ generations that were so affected by the Trail of Tears, the boarding schools, and the indentured servitude of share cropping, and the 40 acres and a mule that no one ever got--once you learn about those things you can understand why it’s so wrong that someone so flippantly allowed another human being to be made fun of so blatantly like that in social media.”Next, what happened to Coyne's fellow band member Kliph Scurlock:

Flaming Lips Drummer Claims He Was Fired After Speaking Out Against Racism

By Tom WilliamsIn a statement to Indian Country Today Media Network yesterday, Scurlock confirmed that his criticism of Fallin got him kicked from the band. “I was fired for telling Christina to go fuck herself after her lame-ass ‘apology’ when people got upset at her stupid headdress photo,” he said.

Scurlock has now gone one step further, providing a lengthy explanatory statement to Pitchfork (below), detailing the events which led him to split from The Flaming Lips. In the statement, Scurlock accuses Wayne Coyne of “endless verbal (with threats of physical) abuse”.

Scurlock notes that following his criticism of Fallin, Coyne set him an early-morning text message which read, “You lost your mind dude…. that is some petty, sad, hater bullshit. You love to talk shit…. Like a punk coward… ”

The next day, Coyne reportedly said “… Ha ha… You so full of shit … You’re a fucking coward !! Go stick up for your Indian friends if its so important to you !!” This text was followed by another which read, “I think….. I am gonna make it so your ‘beliefs’ no longer have any association with the Flaming Lips,” followed by another telling Scurlock that he was fired.Kliph Scurlock Speaks Out About The Flaming Lips, Says He Was Fired For Standing Up to Racist Comments

WTF Is Going On With Wayne Coyne?

Comment:  For more on Christina Fallin, see Fallin Defends Headdress, "Sheep" Shawl and Drummer Fired for Criticizing Fallin.

Fallin defends headdress, "sheep" shawl

In a rare occurrence, someone accused of racism and stereotyping against Natives answered questions from a Native journalist. In this case, it was Christina Fallin, the governor's daughter in a headdress. I've highlighted a key exchange below:

Christina Fallin, in Her Own Words: 'I'm Tired of the Misinformation'

By Wilhelm MurgIn retrospect, you have any regrets about that photo with the headdress? And are you worried about this controversy derailing the career of your band? It has certainly been a distraction from your music.

If I had known it would incite hate and division, I would have avoided posting it, but I was and still am genuine about my appreciation of Native American culture and I was in no way meaning to disrespect it or offend people. Our band is something we do for fun and as a creative release. We do not sell our music. Music is a fun hobby.

What do you think about all of this now that you have my side of the story?

I understand what you are saying, and the debate over cultural appropriation is many shades of gray rather than simply black and white, but I don't know that you've said anything that will change the minds of our readers. I understand that you are unapologetic because you feel you have done nothing wrong, but there are a lot of people out there who will still feel hurt. I "get" that you were in a photo shoot, you put something on, and had your picture taken, and that started spiraling out of control, but you come across as not caring that people "chose" to be offended by it--and I don't know that being offended is always a choice.

You don't think they'll care that I didn't do a war dance nor wear a Native American styled shawl? Because that's the issue that brought us together here today. I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings intentionally and I was not trying to hurt people’s feelings intentionally by posting a picture with the headdress; that's my point. I am very genuine about the connection I feel to Oklahoma and Native American culture. For the people who were genuinely hurt, I am sorry because that was never my intention. I also wasn't in a photo shoot--that was someone else's photo shoot that I was present at.

Thanks for clearing up the bit about the photo shoot. I don't know if you've said you were sorry before, but if you did, it never seemed to get in the articles.

Well I don't typically talk to anyone--typically it's best to remain less detailed and let it ride out, but I'm tired of all of the misinformation. No one takes the time like you did today to genuinely retrieve information.Comment:  Murg did a good job, especially if he didn't have time to prepare and went in cold. But still, he didn't get Fallin to answer a few key questions. Here's what I might've asked:

You keep talking about "offense," but to many people, this a matter of right and wrong. As with wearing a soldier's medals, running a stop sign, or hitting a dog, you don't wear a Plains headdress...period. Not if you're non-Native, and especially not if you're a non-Native woman.

Do you understand that Natives consider this a violation of their culture? That they consider it a crime akin to theft, not merely an "offense" that hurt someone's feelings?

First you said that "people who are looking to be offended will always be offended." Eventually you said that "for the people who were genuinely hurt, I am sorry." These are somewhat contradictory statements, so which is it? Do you think people were genuinely hurt, or were they "choosing" to be offended for some reason other than anguish?

In other words, were their feelings real or not, in your opinion?

If you're admitting some people were genuinely hurt, what took you so long to acknowledge their feelings? You spent the first day of the controversy ignoring their feelings and defending yourself on Facebook. You spent another couple of weeks not acknowledging their feelings and not saying you were sorry. Do you understand why many people think you're not sincere, that you don't really care? Because your actions were exactly like those of someone who isn't at all sorry for doing something wrong.

You keep saying how you love and respect "Native culture." What examples can you give of your alleged admiration? Have you visited tribes, read books and articles about them, or what?

Are you aware that there are many Native cultures, not just one? That most of them don't wear headdresses? That a Plains headdress doesn't represent Oklahoma's tribes? That the headdress is an extremely common stereotype with literally millions of examples?

By your own admission, you've never heard of "cultural appropriation" or "regalia"--two common concepts among Natives. What exactly do you know about Natives, if anything? What's the difference between you and every ignorant American who thinks "Native culture" is a teepee and a headdress?

Your "regalia" comment is especially telling. Natives told you wearing regalia was wrong when they first saw the photo. Did you look up the word then? No.

Given that fact, how can you possibly argue that you care about Natives or their culture(s)? You didn't learn the simple concept of regalia or listen to them when they explained it. Instead, you told them off, thumbed your nose at them. You asserted that your wishes trumped their concerns. Do you understand how that came across as the epitome of white privilege and arrogance?

Who's the sheep?

You say you wore the "sheep" shawl to send a message about "yellow journalism"? Did you expect journalists who weren't at the concert to somehow get the message? How, exactly?

Who are some of these yellow journalists and what facts did they get wrong? From what you've said in this interview, most of the criticism you've received was apt. Give us some examples of mistakes made by journalists covering this story.

I trust you're not referring to a trivial detail like someone giving you the headdress vs. your choosing it on your own. Because that's irrelevant. The issue is how you didn't listen when Natives asked you to take down the photo. If you had done that immediately, the controversy would've gone away then.

You were waving your "sheep" shawl in the face of Native protesters at the concert--but we're supposed to believe you weren't sending them a message? You called someone "sheep" and your critics were directly in front of you...but you thought they'd understand you were criticizing someone else? How did you expect them to reach that counterintuitive conclusion?

At the very least, you were insensitive to the protesters' feelings, right? Because people who see a message waved at them rightly assume it's for them. Do you at least admit they made an obvious and understandable connection that you were too self-absorbed and clueless to get?

Do you still have nothing to say about your friend Wayne Coyne taunting the protesters in your audience? Posting a photo of a dog in a headdress? Firing his drummer for criticizing you?

You say you care about Native feelings. Whether you're responsible for Coyne's actions or not, tell us how you feel about them. Was he right or wrong to mock Natives in person and on Instagram?

If you're not willing to criticize him, why shouldn't Natives assume that you support him? Again, the issue is how much you care about Natives. If you care at all, you'll stand up for them and denounce Coyne's actions.

Fallin blind to privilege

A commenter on this posting sums up the problems with Fallin's responses pretty well:There is the thought that people should judge slowly...but it's hard for marginalized minority groups to do that because we've endured plenty of insensitivity, insults and racist comments, knowingly or unknowingly offensive statements. It's good to see what Ms. Fallin's viewpoint is because she exposes herself as young and certainly uninformed for a person of her age...." As it was a beautiful picture, it rapidly got a lot of 'likes,' but it also got a lot of #culturalappropriation tags--I didn't even know what that meant and had to look it up. I don't live my life worrying about things like cultural appropriation--that's why I didn't know," she says...and that's the problem with white or majority privilege. it's great that she doesn't have to be accountable for her lack of clear communication, but if you're on the other side, it's not so great to endure ignorance or offensiveness, whether it was unknowingly or knowingly...at least she states that she is sorry for those who were offended rather than the politician's apology of "if anyone was offended." The other problem here is that she is an artist, and art is also about communication...she was not communicating clearly what her intentions were. You can't hide behind the artistic ideals and obfuscate issues under the guise of art. Assuming that she really meant no ill will, then she has some major blindspots in not seeing the optics of what her actions were and how that would be received by those who took offense.About the only point I'll concede to Fallin is that she did receive more protests than the equally offensive Cher. I'm not sure why.

I posted some items about Cher in my blog and on Facebook and Twitter. As far as I'm concerned, all wrongdoers in this area are equally wrong. But most people ignored my postings.

I can only surmise the different response is due to Fallin's youth, her claim of respecting Natives, and her obvious lack of remorse. Cher's been doing this for 40 years and the setting is a concert where showmanship is prized. People may think she's too old and set in her ways to change.

The Village People and Ted Nugent also have misused headdresses and also have received less criticism than Fallin. My response is that Cher and the others deserve more criticism, not that Fallin deserves less. Plenty of people in her position--Karlie Kloss, Gwen Stefani, Heidi Klum, et al.--have received similar criticism, and rightly so.

So Fallin made one or two good points. Other than that, it's like Murg said. None of her arguments will change anyone's minds. That's because her arguments have huge holes, as noted above.

For more on Christina Fallin, see Drummer Fired for Criticizing Fallin and Christina Fallin Calls Natives "Sheep."

Drummer fired for criticizing Fallin

Really? Wayne Coyne Supported Fallin With Picture of Dog in HeaddressAn indie-rock icon weighed in on the Christina Fallin headdress controversy--and he wasn't asking her to be more respectful of the American Indians whose culture she is trivializing. No, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips showed his support of the Oklahoma Governor's daughter, with a tasteless photo sent from his (now closed) Instagram account.

According to Oklahoma culture blog The Lost Ogle, Coyne, who is a friend of Christina Fallin's, posted the following:

Yes, that's a dog wearing a feather headdress.

This isn't Fallin's responsibility directly, but she hasn't denounced or criticized the photo posted on her behalf. Her silence implies an endorsement of Coyne's actions.

How the Flaming Lips Lost a Drummer Over Native American Appropriation

By Jordan SargentOn March 6, Christina Fallin—Mary's daughter and the lead singer of the band Pink Pony—proudly posted a photo to Instagram that showed her wearing a headdress, seemingly unaware that it might anger scores of people in her mother's state, which is still 9 percent American Indian. In response to social media blowback against that picture, Fallin, who is 27, released a statement along with her band, asking Oklahoma's native community to "forgive us if we innocently adorn ourselves in your beautiful things."

On March 22, the Flaming Lips played a show without Kliph Scurlock, who had drummed with the psych-rockers since 2002. On April 2, a commenter on the indie rock blog Brooklyn Vegan wrote that legendary frontman Wayne Coyne had fired Scurlock from the band, and that Fallin's headdress stunt was to blame:Kliph wasn't fired for calling Wayne out on his midlife crisis b.s. (although if anyone in that band had the nuts to bring it up to Wayne, it would be Kliph!) He was fired for taking a stand against Wayne's new buddy--the daughter of OK's tea-bagging, homophobe governor Mary Fallin--when she donned a Native headdress for a racist publicity stunt. When Kliph called her out on social media for being a shithead to the Oklahoma Native community who complained about her headdress publicity stunt, she tattled on him to Wayne. Wayne actually told Kliph he was fired for insulting Fallin publicly.UPDATE: Flaming Lips drummer fired for insulting Wayne's pal Christina Fallin?

By Red Dirt Report[W]hile not independently confirmed, a reader of Brooklyn Vegan allegedly had some inside dope on the Scurlock situation: "When Kliph called her out on social media for being a shithead to the Oklahoma Native community who complained about her headdress publicity stunt, she tattled on him to Wayne. Wayne actually told Kliph he was fired for insulting Fallin publicly. On a kinda-related note, word from Wayne's inner circle is that he was so geeked about getting an invite to Governor Teabagger's mansion for a party with a bunch of 20-something Republican hipster wannabes (friends of the Gov's daughter) that he was practically begging his band mates to go with, an invite that everyone else in the band felt was pretty lame and to which everyone else declined. Not Wayne tho. He and Fallin are pretty tight...he recently posted an even more offensive picture of his dog wearing an authentic looking Native headdress in response to the Oklahoma Native community's backlash against Fallin for her headdress stunt. No one in the band dares speak out on this one bc they have families to support and Wayne has bogarted all the Flaming Lips earnings and keeps them all on a pretty short financial leash."Again, this isn't Fallin's responsibility directly. Again, she hasn't denounced or criticized the actions taken on her behalf. Again, her silence implies endorsement.

For more on Christina Fallin, see Christina Fallin Calls Natives "Sheep" and Oklahoma Governor's Daughter in a Headdress.

Below:  Gov. Fallin suddenly realizes her daughter might be doing something wrong.

Christina Fallin calls Natives "sheep"

Christina Fallin, the headdress-wearing daughter of Oklahoma's governor, is in trouble again:

OK Governor’s Daughter Criticized for Performing in Native Regalia and Doing a Fake War Dance

By Levi RickertChristina Fallin, 27, the daughter of Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, is back to misbehaving. This time she wore American Indian regalia as she performed at the Norman Music Festival in Norman, Oklahoma on Friday night.

The younger Fallin provides live mixes and dances during performances in Pink Pony, a Oklahoma City-based band.

This past March Fallin drew the ire of Indian country for posting a photograph of herself on social media sites in an American Indian headdress.

Part of Friday night’s regalia worn by Fallin was an American Indian-styled shawl with the word “Sheep” on the back as she performed a fake American Indian war dance.

Oklahoma Gov's daughter Performs Fake War Dance and Calls Natives "Sheep"Protestors led by Choctaw musician Samantha Crain staged a protest at the Norman Music Festival in Oklahoma and Native American's reaction via social media was outraged as Fallin wore a Native American-style fringed shawl with the word "Sheep" on the back and performed a fake war dance while her boyfriend Steven Battles ridiculed the protesters and flipped them off from the stage.

Earlier that day, Crain noted on her Facebook page, "Publicity stunt or not, even if they are lying, their attitudes, their insincerity, their irresponsibility, their general lack of caring about anything other than the advancement of themselves deserve a protest. So I will be at the Pink Pony show at NMF tonight. Midnight. black watch stage. Peacefully and quietly picketing with signs to tell them how I feel."

Some of the signs said, "culture is not a costume," "with all your power, what will you do?," "you still owe us an apology," "don't trend on me," "I am not a costume," and "please forgive us if we innocently oppose you". The last sign was a take on Fallin's non-apology after she posted a photo of her self misappropriating Native America regalia reserved for highly honored leaders for a glamour shot to promote her career. Faced with more Native American protests Fallin attempted to have Crain and supporters removed by security, but they were allowed to remain on private land adjacent to the stage.

According to a tweet by Chahta Summer, a Choctaw mother and recent law school graduate Fallin's shawl with "sheep" written on the back was a direct swipe at Native Americans. "Their supporters were calling us sheep the last time, saying we called her out to be PC, not thinking for ourselves."

With all your power, what would you do?: Christina Fallin's band, Pink Pony, protested at Norman Music Festival

A first-hand account of the Christina Fallin/Pink Pony protest at the Norman Music Festival.

By Louis FowlerEventually, the Norman PD showed up and said we had every right to protest there, but Lackey continued in her ranting. However, and kudos to Blackwatch for this, they allowed Crain on the other side of the partition where Fallin’s entourage stood mocking us, holding her sign with a courage and determination that inspired all of our tired arms to just hold our signs up higher, more stoic than ever.

Within minutes after that, Fallin took to the stage dressed in pantyhose, garters and an obviously Native-inspired shawl that read in big black letters “SHEEP.” This was in reference, it is theorized, that the protesters were easily-led morons for not believing what the band said in their non-apology regarding their “love of native culture” and whatnot.

This was painfully and brutally reinforced when, during one of their numbers, Fallin lifted her shawl over her head and did a perverse mockery of a native war-dance, twirling in circles as the drummer—anonymously wearing a “white-face” mask, mind you—tried desperately to keep the beat.

To see her reenact a sacred ritual like that in front of drunk, hateful hipsters literally caused the protesters’ collective jaws to drop. In essence, to me, it felt like Fallin was throwing it down and ultimately declaring war on Natives, not only the culture, but the people as well.

She really is like her mother.

Daughter Of Oklahoma Governor Provokes Protests Over Her Use Of Native American Symbols

The 27-year-old caused an uproar when she hinted she would wear full regalia at an Oklahoma music festival. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin says she “[does not] approve of her behavior on that night or that of her band.”

By Lindsey AdlerNorman Music Festival has released a statement about the performance:The Norman Music Festival does not support the actions of Pink Pony, and in particular Christina Fallin, at our festival on Saturday night. We had no prior knowledge of the performance content, and we oppose her use and depiction of American Indian artifacts and symbols. We certainly understand that these actions do nothing but promote racism, cultural discrimination and religious discrimination. The Norman Music Festival is here to support artists and bring people together--not divide them. We apologize to anyone who was offended.Governor Mary Fallin released a statement Monday afternoon:On Saturday night, while performing at the Norman Music Festival, my daughter acted in a way that I believe was inappropriate. While she will always be my daughter and I love her very much, I don’t approve of her behavior on that night or that of her band. I have communicated that to Christina.

I have great respect for Oklahoma’s tribal members and I celebrate their traditions and culture. As governor, I work in hand in hand with tribal leaders on everything from disaster response to economic development. Tribal governments are important partners to our state government, and I value the good relationships my administration has cultivated with them.This posting has a photo gallery and a brief video of Fallin's performance.

Christina Fallin at center of Norman Music Festival protests, festival apologizes for Pink Pony performance

You can't see enough of her "dance" to describe it. I don't know if I'd call it a "war dance." A better comparison would be with the shawl dances done at powwows.

I also don't know if I'd call the poncho a "Native-inspired shawl." She may have intended it as a cape: displaying her message in back while not obscuring her outfit in front. She may not have thought of Native shawls, which aren't especially well-known.

But if you take all the elements--the "shawl," the "sheep" message, the dance, and the band members in whiteface--together, Fallin clearly meant to taunt her critics. It was a big middle finger to the Natives and others who dared to question her blatant cultural appropriation and complete lack of apology. In other words, she was mocking them with her white privilege--saying she could do whatever she wanted and they couldn't stop her.

To be fair, she was labeling all her critics "sheep," not just her Native critics. But non-Native critics like me were only following the lead of Natives, echoing their arguments. So it's fair to say Natives were her primary target.

Even her right-wing mother the governor recognized the intended insult. Wow, kind of a burn when your own parent criticizes you in public with an official statement. Maybe that'll get through her thick white skull; let's hope so.

Oklahoma governor's daughter in a headdress

Another day, another headdress controversy. The latest one involves Christina Fallin, daughter Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma.

I believe this website was the first to report it:

Christina Fallin appreciates Native American culture and other beautiful things…

By PatrickHipster Boo Boo strikes again!

Yesterday, Christina Fallin was “overseeing” a photo shoot as part of her new gig as a “marketing consultant” for So6ix magazine. During the shoot, she posted the following photo on Instagram:Christina Fallin put down her can of black face and decided it would be fun to disrespect and mock Native American culture in a state that has a whole bunch of Native Americans? Yeah, I’m aware. That’s why I sent a screenshot of her ridiculous photo out to our 20,000+ Twitter followers last night.

That’s pretty awful, but on a positive note, at least she wasn’t chugging whiskey or rolling around on the ground mumbling “Tatonka.” I’m sure both crossed her mind. At least she showed some restraint.

After we sent the tweet, people showered the out-of-touch, affluent, attention craving white poser who lacks any self-awareness of the real world with a whole lot of attention. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the “Oh My Gawd, you’re so creative Christinahhhh. I love youuu!” praise that she’s used to receiving from all her hipster friends and So6ix magazine cronies. They were more of the “Hey, you’re an insensitive racist bitch” variety.

Obviously, the negative comments got Christina’s attention. She issued a statement about it this morning, but instead of apologizing, taking responsibility and showing any sort of remorse, she and her boyfriend simply used the pic as an opportunity to promote their awful band and justify the situation with some sort of “holier than thou” philosophical, stoned college student bullshit. It’s one of the most ridiculous, out-of-touch things I’ve ever read.

Check it out:Fallin and Steven Battles are part of the band Pink Pony. Curiously, someone (Christina herself?) tried to defend Fallin and her "apology" on Pink Pony's Facebook page. Here's a typical exchange:



I'm surprised Fallin left the posting up for six or whatever hours. And engaged with her critics, however poorly.

I was one of those who chimed in with criticism. Eventually, she took down the faux-pology and the critical comments disappeared with it.

Story goes wide

Many people noted the irony of Fallin's wearing an Indian headdress while her mother governs the state formerly known as Indian Territory. For that reason, I think, the story got more coverage than headdress stories usually do. It took off after the Associated Press reported on it:

Daughter of Okla. Governor Defends headdress photo

By Kristi EatonFallin, the daughter of Oklahoma's first female governor, Mary Fallin, made headlines in 2011 after a photo shoot at the governor's mansion. A local magazine focused on 20-somethings posted videos from the session, showing her strolling around the mansion property in avant-garde fashions.

Those videos were removed from the magazine's website after some people said they were distasteful. Christina Fallin issued a statement at that time saying she was thrilled to be a part of the magazine.

The 26-year-old Fallin is currently a marketing consultant for and appears in another local magazine that features fashion trends, health tips and beauty advice. She is also part of a local band that describes itself as "electronic-punk."

In the past few weeks, she's also posted several photos from events with her mother: first one from the State of the State speech at Oklahoma's capitol and others from Washington, D.C., while at the National Governor's Association meeting.

The picture of the headdress quickly drew negative comments on Fallin's social media profiles, many of which were then deleted. Headdresses, historically worn by Native American warriors who received feathers for heroic deeds, are considered sacred items and are still used for some ceremonies.Daughter of Oklahoma governor causes uproar after posing in Native American headdress

Gov. Mary Fallin is the one who signed away the rights to Baby Veronica, and who won't fund a museum for Oklahoma's Indians. Her daughter has appeared on the campaign trail with her and probably has similar beliefs. If this is the Fallins' attitude toward Indians, it's no wonder some Indians are sorry they supported Mary Fallin.

Natives respond

A couple of critics nailed the problems with the photo and the faux-pology:

I’m a Native American Banned from Commenting on Cultural Appropriation by Pink Pony

By Frances DangerPink Pony issued a statement regarding the photo early this morning, explaining their reasoning behind the usage of the photo. In the press release the band defends the use of the headdress, stating it was done with innocence and respect. There is no apology for the misuse of a sacred Native cultural item and, in fact, the statement dismisses the cultural significance by saying a woman in a headdress is beautiful.

Pink Pony is currently riding a wave of national publicity for this stunt (and a stunt it is). Pink Pony willfully and knowingly appropriated Native culture then silenced, and continues to silence, Native voices when it does not fit their particular narrative of how they wish to be perceived. This is an issue not only of appropriation, but entitlement and institutional racism. Pink Pony feel that they are somehow entitled to use this culture because “pretty” overshadows the very real and very damaging disrespect shown to Native culture and ideals. If Pink Pony truly had respect for Native culture and saw them as people and not as props they would listen to the feedback, accept help to further their education, and issue a heartfelt and appropriate apology. Additionally, banning Natives from the discussion is indicative of their mindset in regards to Natives, i.e. “It’s ok for me to wear your pretty headdress and feel picked on when you don’t take it the right way so you should shut up about it and let me do what I want.” Pretty it up all you want, but marginalizing and silencing Natives regarding issues of their own cultural heritage is nothing short of racism.

There is no room for debate where Pink Pony is concerned. Instead there is their canned press release and condescending and responsibility dodging answers to current comments on their page, stating they don’t see race or gender, which ultimately dismisses and once again marginalizes the culture they are profiting from. It’s like someone gave them a book on how to act during a PR crisis and they chose to do the opposite. I’d laugh if it weren’t so sad.

As usual, Adrienne Keene knocked it out of the park in her Native Appropriations blog:

Dear Christina Fallin[Y]ou see Christina, while a lot of those folks I wrote those letters to came at this from a place of ignorance (which doesn’t excuse it by any means), you knew that putting on that headdress would be controversial. You titled your photo “Appropriate Culturation” which means you are aware of the concept of cultural appropriation, and knew that Native peoples would be hurt by your choice, and you did it anyway.

Then you released your “apology,” an “apology” which never actually apologizes, and instead says this:Growing up in Oklahoma, we have come into contact with Native American culture institutionally our whole lives—something we are eternally grateful for. With age, we feel a deeper and deeper connection to the Native American culture that has surrounded us. Though it may not have been our own, this aesthetic has affected us emotionally in a very real and very meaningful way.And then this line, which is the kicker:Please forgive us if we innocently adorn ourselves with your beautiful things. We do so with the utmost respect. We hold a sincere reverence for and genuine spiritual connection to Native American values.I can’t get over that line. I read it again and again, and can’t believe that you actually think that way of thinking is normal, excusable, and ok.After a summary of Native history, she continues:Notice the words I keep using here? Forcibly, stripped, prohibited, assimilated. This is not a happy history. This is a history marked by violence and by trauma. So while you may feel “eternally grateful” for your exposure to our cultures, you’re deliberately ignoring your own history if you think your donning of a headdress is “innocent.” Let’s fast forward to 2014. Now “tribal trends” are totally “in.” You can walk into any store in the mall and see “Native” imagery everywhere. As a Native person, when I look at them, I can’t help but remember the not-so-distant past when my people weren’t allowed, by law, to wear these things. It’s such a constant reminder of the colonial power structures still in place. Back in the day, white people had the power to take away our culture, and now they have the power to wear it however they see fit. These are our images, our cultural symbols, yet we are completely powerless to have control over them. It may seem extreme, but the best way I can say it is that your wearing of the headdress is an act of violence that continues the pain of colonization. “Please forgive us if we innocently adorn ourselves with your beautiful things.” The privilege and violence of that statement astounds me. “Please forgive us if we innocently use your beautiful land,” “Please forgive us if we innocently educate your beautiful children,” “Please forgive us if we innocently sexualize your beautiful women.” These actions are not benign.

Comment:  For more on the subject, see Crystle Lightning in a Headdress and Why Hipster Headdresses Aren't Okay.