Outrage over Dior ad campaign

Dior is facing widespread criticism for an advertising campaign that Native Americans say perpetuates stereotypes.

The new ad for the Dior men's fragrance called Sauvage, has sparked outrage for its use of Native American culture and symbols.

The French luxury goods company, posted a trailer of a Native American dancer and promised more details about the fragrance on Monday. Another post, on Instagram, noted the campaign was developed along with Native American consultants. But the ad continued to receive heavy criticism for being insensitive and having an offensive name.

Sauvage in French has a variety of meanings, including wild, unspoiled and savage.

It is said that Dior consulted with the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Americans for Indian Opportunity on the campaign.

Executive director Laura Harris, says the group sought to ensure that Native American artists, actors and writers were included in the campaign, to educate production teams. She says the controversy will start an international conversation about contemporary Native Americans.

Others like Dallas Goldtooth of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Minnesota, say the ad is romanticising Native Americans as relics of the past. He says the ad doesn't benefit Native people; it simply creates buzz for the French luxury goods company.

Goldtooth says no one will take Native Americans seriously if they're continually portrayed as mystical and wearing feathers and fringe.

Dior has since deleted ads from its social media accounts promoting its Sauvage fragrance that had prompted criticism because of their use of Native American culture.

A video on Twitter featuring a Native American dancer and an Instagram post explaining the campaign that was crafted with Native American consultants were deleted hours after they were called out for cultural misappropriation and being insensitive.

The company has not responded to an email seeking comment on the ads or their deletion.

Johnny Depp is the celebrity face of the Sauvage brand, and the fate of a film he recorded to promote it is unclear.