Lily Gladstone Denounces Kansas City Chiefs Chant as a ‘Mockery,’ Takes Issue with San Francisco 49ers Mascot
Lily Gladstone believes both the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers should be held “accountable” for their use of offensive Native American imagery.
During the February 16 episode of the “Variety Awards Circuit” podcast, Gladstone, 37, expressed her concerns about the use of such imagery by the NFL teams.
She highlighted the problematic nature of the “tomahawk chop” chant associated with the Chiefs, describing it as a “stark reminder of what Hollywood has done to us” and how it perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes of Indigenous peoples.
Gladstone, who recently made history as the first Native American actress to earn a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” emphasized the damaging impact of such imagery on the perception of Native Americans.
She referenced a study allegedly conducted around 2020, which suggested that a significant portion of Americans believed Native Americans did not exist in modern society.
The actress pointed out the lack of genuine representation of her culture and the harmful effects of fetishized or distorted portrayals.
She highlighted the high suicide rate among Native American youth and emphasized the importance of accurate representation in shaping one’s sense of self.
Gladstone acknowledged the popularity of football and the NFL but stressed that the perpetuation of offensive imagery still causes harm.
She cited instances of pushback against the Chiefs’ name, logo, and chants, including protests outside stadiums and restrictions on fan attire.
As she prepares for the Oscars, Gladstone reflected on her historic win at the Golden Globes and expressed gratitude for being able to speak a bit of her Blackfeet language during her acceptance speech.
She highlighted the efforts to preserve Indigenous languages and called attention to the challenges faced by Native actors in the industry.
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