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May 24, 2012

Spielberg TV series sued over haircut

by Anna Johns, posted Mar 18th 2006 9:14PM
steven spielberg into the westA family from the Mescalero Apache tribe is suing the producers of the Steven Spielberg television series, Into the West. The family claims that their daughter's hair was cut without permission and without regard for tribal customs. The girl, 8-year old Christina Ponce, had her hair cut up to her chin to make her look like a Native American boy. The Mescalero tribe forbids cutting a girl's hair before she reaches puberty, when it should be waist-length for a Coming of Age ceremony. Ponce's parents are suing for $250,000 for emotional distress and $75,000 in damages. The girl was cast in the role after her parents responded to a casting call in New Mexico last March. Into the West aired on TBS TNT last summer.

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Brent McKee

I have a suspicion that such an act in old Apache tradition would involve a punishment that would be illegal virtually everywhere in the world. Given that this is not something really covered by criminal law,a law suit is probably the prefereable option if you're Mr Speilberg. The big question is if the script called for a Native American boy, why didn't they hire a Native American boy to play the part instead of making a girl look like a boy? Or were they following in the grand tradition that saw Leonard Nimoy playing Nitive Americans?

March 19 2006 at 3:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tweaq

Kind of ironic (maybe) that they're Native American tradionalists, with keeping her air and all that. But they're PURE american, that they're sue the pants of anyone. and should her hair cost $75,000? couldn't they have just went with $325,000 for "stress"

March 19 2006 at 7:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Seth

Into The West was a TNT original series, not TBS.

March 19 2006 at 12:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Wyant

I think it aired on TNT...

March 18 2006 at 11:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erik

Dead in the water. I promise that 200 page contract they signed contained a clause about allowing hair and makeup changes...among a thousand other things they won't be able to sue for.

March 18 2006 at 10:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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