Johnny Depp’s Dior Ad Co-Star Tanaya Beatty Speaks Out, Encourages Him to Donate to Native Cause
Johnny Depp’s Dior Ad Co-Star Tanaya Beatty Speaks Out, Encourages Him to Donate to Native Cause https://t.co/uB59mxfuSo
- Variety (@Variety) September 2, 2019
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Beatty’s character, “the maiden,” is described in marketing collateral as a “suggestive feminine presence, febrile and sensual,” evoking negative stereotypes about Native American women.
Beatty was hesitant to take on the role and felt conflicted during filming, “witnessing as a company blatantly disrespected indigenous culture.”
“When we filmed it, I could only hope that it would start the conversation it now has. My intention is not to shame Dior or call out Johnny Depp. The issues are far bigger than any advertisement. And having worked with them, I do believe Dior - though misguided - had every intention of showing indigenous culture in a beautiful light while giving jobs to some Indians in the process. And… perhaps I’d even encourage a certain perfume company and a certain beloved pirate to make a donation as well. Just sayin."
Beatty went on to detail some of the indignities she has suffered as an actor of Native descent
"On set, I’ve had my hair touched, been told I am too native looking, not native looking enough, been asked to be naked, been told I need more fake blood on my face to look like I’ve been really raped, been touched inappropriately, been called slurs, and been told by someone that they didn’t know natives still [existed]. Throughout the history of Natives in film, we’ve been made a spectacle. Marginalized, fetishized, used as a backdrop."
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