Native costume designer on Killers of the Flower Moon sues Apple over awards exclusion, discrimination

Killers of the Flower Moon trailer

native american, apple, leonardo dicaprio, killers of the flower moon, native costume designer on killers of the flower moon sues apple over awards exclusion, discrimination

Native American costume designer Kristi Marie Hoffman sued Apple on Wednesday, claiming that she was excluded from awards consideration for her work on Killers of the Flower Moon, allegedly as retaliation for her complaints of racial discrimination on set.

Hoffman, who was credited as an assistant costume designer, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, and alleged that she completed “most of the research and costume design for the film,” in particular those worn by the Osage actors.

Hoffman has also claimed that she designed the jacket worn by Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Ernest Burkhart, which she said “garnered much praise for its authenticity and originality”.

Despite her work, Hoffman said that her contributions were “completely ignored” and she was excluded from receiving credit at the Academy Awards and the Costume Designers Guild Awards.

Killers of the Flower Moon was nominated for 10 Oscars, seven Golden Globe Awards and three SAG Awards, several of these for best costume design, and also received a nomination from the Costume Designers Guild (CDG) for excellence in a period film.

The Western true-crime thriller is an adaption of David Grann’s 2017 non-fiction book of the same name, which follows the Osage Indian murders of the 1920s.

According to the lawsuit, Hoffman was initially listed alongside the lead costume designer Jacqueline West and identified as the first assistant costume designer when the nominations for the Costume Designers Guild Award were announced.

However, she was allegedly removed at West’s request and the credit was applied to all assistant costume designers, including those in secondary roles.

native american, apple, leonardo dicaprio, killers of the flower moon, native costume designer on killers of the flower moon sues apple over awards exclusion, discrimination
Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from Killers of the Flower Moon (AP)

When Hoffman challenged the decision, the CDG found that the removal was “improper.”

However, Hoffman believes her removal was in retaliation for her filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint that was settled in December 2022 over racial discrimination she allegedly faced on the set that “affected her mentally and emotionally.”

native american, apple, leonardo dicaprio, killers of the flower moon, native costume designer on killers of the flower moon sues apple over awards exclusion, discrimination

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

native american, apple, leonardo dicaprio, killers of the flower moon, native costume designer on killers of the flower moon sues apple over awards exclusion, discrimination

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free

“Since her EEOC Complaint, Hoffman has been targeted through elimination efforts by Defendants for her contributions to the film by Defendants’ promotion of West and O ‘Keefe for her efforts,” the lawsuit states.

Hoffman has sued Apple, the Costume Designers Guild, and Jacqueline West, the costume designer who hired her, in her lawsuit.

The lawsuit states that Hoffman was brought on the project because West wanted someone with the requisite cultural competency and ensure that Native Americans were represented among the crew.

“Hoffman, who has been in the television and film industry since around 2004 and has contributed to many productions, poured her heart into KOTFM as a film about Native Americans to which she could relate as a Native herself,” the lawsuit states.

Hoffman endured discriminatory conduct on the set of KOTFM, as she was subsequently discredited for her work during the film’s promotion and release and targeted with ads celebrating West and O’Keefe for the results of her hard work.”

native american, apple, leonardo dicaprio, killers of the flower moon, native costume designer on killers of the flower moon sues apple over awards exclusion, discrimination
Lily Gladstone and director Martin Scorsese on the set of Killers of the Flower Moon (AP)

Further, the lawsuit claims that Hoffman was deliberately overlooked as the film’s costume work was promoted only by West and consultant Julie O’Keefe, with no mention of Hoffman.

“Throughout the multitude of award nominations for KOTFM, Apple teamed up with West and CDG to promote the film and its costume design,” the lawsuit said.

“Despite Hoffman being the primary ACD and completing most of the research and costume design for the film, the Defendants not only specifically excluded her involvement in its promotion but also completely ignored her work and instead represented to the public at large that the costume design work, her work, was the product of West and a consultant on the film, Julie O’Keefe.”

The Independent has reached out to Apple Studios for a comment.

Hoffman, who has been part of the industry since 2004 and worked on 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and 2015’s The Revenant, has brought claims for breach of contract, false advertising, retaliation, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction against further promotion of the film.

OTHER NEWS

16 minutes ago

Ukraine opens its Euro 2024 campaign against Romania amid backdrop of war back home

16 minutes ago

Poland vs. Netherlands Euro 2024 time, live stream, TV channel, lineups to watch Group D match in Australia

16 minutes ago

I'm nearly 90, worth more than £200 million and still starting new businesses. Here's how I did it - and my eight tips for getting rich

18 minutes ago

Woman shot by police in public park after allegedly wielding knife

19 minutes ago

Pennsylvania waste management facility collects millions of dollars worth of tossed out coins

19 minutes ago

Jon Bon Jovi teams up with *NSYNC star to open Nashville honky-tonk

19 minutes ago

Charcoal company gives away 50K free barbecues to Americans in food-insecure communities

20 minutes ago

Brian Cox rails against Brexit and Nigel Farage on BBC politics programme

20 minutes ago

Hamburg police shoot man near Euro 2024 fan park ‘threatening officers with pickaxe’

20 minutes ago

Nations discuss children, nuclear safety at talks on peace in Ukraine taking place without Russia

20 minutes ago

Ludvig Aberg career earnings: How much money has golfer made on PGA Tour?

20 minutes ago

US Open live updates: Leaderboard, Sunday tee times for final round at Pinehurst

20 minutes ago

SpaceX's Inspiration4 astronauts got genetically younger in space: study

20 minutes ago

When Are Trump Supporters Complicit?

20 minutes ago

Coach and son's defibrillator plea after fundraising

20 minutes ago

St Helens' Agnatious Paasi opens up on injury battle and emotional playing return

20 minutes ago

Wanna be a good dad? A 'School for Men' teaches diapering, ponytail making

26 minutes ago

Revealed: How scores of patients taking antidepressants suffer such severe withdrawal symptoms they are hooked on them for life

26 minutes ago

'I know I'll get Alzheimer's... but when?' One woman's story of how a DNA test changed the course of her life for ever

26 minutes ago

I'm nearly 90, worth more than £200 million and still starting new businesses. Here's how I did it - and my eight tips for getting rich

26 minutes ago

DR ELLIE CANNON: What a strange taste in your mouth can tell you about your health

27 minutes ago

POLL: Which 2023 Lions rookie will have the biggest Year 2 leap?

27 minutes ago

"We knew we weren't playing too many minutes" - Scottie Pippen admitted he and Michael Jordan drank beers before exhibition games

27 minutes ago

Foreign Ministry follows up on death of 6 Jordanian pilgrims

27 minutes ago

Amazon Is Our Pitstop for Cute and Comfy Travel Outfits Going Into Summer — Shop 13 New Arrivals From $20

27 minutes ago

'My boyfriend is trying to stop me from going to the gym – it feels so unfair'

27 minutes ago

Are EastEnders stars Lacey Turner and Lillia Turner related?

27 minutes ago

UK's new £18,000,000 rollercoaster 'breaks down' leaving people stuck 236ft up

27 minutes ago

Arsenal transfers: £60m striker ditched after one meeting as Arteta ‘didn’t want him around’

27 minutes ago

Charley Hull: What's In The Bag | Golf Monthly

27 minutes ago

Video: Giovanni Pernice looks 'blissfully happy' as he returns to the stage alongside supportive pal Anton Du Beke - but fails to mention Strictly following shock exit amid workplace 'misconduct' probe

30 minutes ago

Police confirm person with ‘incendiary device’ shot near fanzone hours before Euro 2024 match

30 minutes ago

Cyprus records a second death from heatstroke as temperatures soar

30 minutes ago

NYC considers ending broker fees for tenants, angering real estate industry

32 minutes ago

Cricket tournament takes over Fredericton, N.B.

32 minutes ago

NSW allocates $450 million for more than 400 build-to-rent homes for essential workers

32 minutes ago

US Open golf leaderboard in full ahead of Sunday round at Pinehurst

32 minutes ago

Ukraine's Azov Brigade Sends Direct Message to US After Arms Ban Lifted

32 minutes ago

‘I launched a £70m business during Covid – money doesn’t stay in my account very long’

32 minutes ago

'If Shivam Dube isn't bowling, Sanju Samson should be picked': India's T20 World Cup winner wants star WK back in XI