Pop musician Rihanna has come below hearth for sporting a pendant depicting the Hindu god Ganesh whereas modeling her Savage X Fenty lingerie assortment.
On Monday, the “Love on the Mind” hitmaker posted a photograph of herself sporting nothing however a silky pair of lavender shorts and matching jewellery. However it was her necklace that caught probably the most consideration from critics, who’ve accused the Grammy winner of appropriating Hinduism.
Dangling on the backside of the beaded accent is the idol of Lord Ganesh, often known as Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity with a candy tooth who represents knowledge and success.
“That is disrespectful to [H]induism,” one particular person commented on Rihanna’s newest Instagram put up. “You wouldn’t put on an Islamic necklace and take a photograph like this, so why would you put on a sacred Hindu deity and a take a photograph like this? Please take the time to study what Ganesha means and don’t disrespect faith like this.”
“Disenchanted riri,” one other commenter wrote, “Ganesha is just not a ornament piece to make use of for an aesthetic! Give some respect to another person’s faith as you’ll your individual.”
The criticism has additionally prolonged to Twitter, the place individuals have condemned the controversial picture as “offensive,” “insulting” and “unacceptable.” The controversy comes lower than per week after mannequin Jhardan Reign sparked a backlash by posing in a Valentine’s Day-themed Savage X Fenty quantity in entrance of a mandir, or Hindu temple.
And a few identified that, in a separate incident final yr, Rihanna apologized to the Muslim group for utilizing a tune that sampled a recitation from Islam’s sacred hadith for her Savage X Fenty style present. And in 2019, the singer discovered herself on the heart of one other cultural appropriation scandal after posing in Chinese language clothes and niknaks on the duvet of Harper’s Bazaar China.
“We’re so drained & if we elevate voice towards this cultural appropriation so we’re labelled as [H]indu extremist,” one particular person wrote Monday on Twitter. “For you all [H]induphobics it’s simply necklace however for us he’s god. Please cease telling us wht is offensive & whts not.”
“Rihanna permitting her lingerie line to be shot at a mandir and now her posting topless with a Ganesh pendant on is de facto disappointing and upsetting,” tweeted one other Twitter person. “Cultural and spiritual appropriation isn’t cool or aesthetic. It’s offensive asf and I count on extra from her.”
A consultant for Rihanna didn’t reply Wednesday to The Instances’ request for remark.
See extra reactions beneath to the pop star’s divisive picture, which has amassed greater than 10 million likes on Instagram and Twitter.
We’re so drained & if we elevate voice towards this cultural appropriation so we’re labelled as hindu extremist. For you all hinduphobics it’s simply necklace however for us he is god. Please cease telling us wht is offensive & whts not. Audacity of those ppl “hinduphobia does not exist”🤡
— vedu💙👀 (@IndicRant) February 16, 2021
Rihanna permitting her lingerie line to be shot at a mandir and now her posting topless with a Ganesh pendant on is de facto disappointing and upsetting. Cultural and spiritual appropriation isn’t cool or aesthetic. It’s offensive asf and I count on extra from her.
— Rani Sa Ami 💥 (@yungtadka) February 15, 2021
The way in which by which Rihanna has insulted Ganesh ji is disgusting. However I refuse to retweet that image of her or tag her in anyway. By doing this we’re giving her and her sick mindset extra free publicity which is precisely what she needs.
— Kavita (@Sassy_Pharm) February 16, 2021
no as a result of i put on a locket that has a tiny little statue of lord ganesh too however its as a result of i respect him, i worship him, not for the “aesthetic”… like i really like rihanna, however that is simply.. not it
— ًraj JGL DAY!!! (@copperfieId) February 16, 2021
There’s rightful outrage on my TL proper now over a photograph Rihanna posted the place she’s half bare, selling her lingerie line, whereas sporting a necklace of Ganesh, a Hindu god. It’s 2021 and by now we must always all perceive that faith is just not an aesthetic.
— Deepika (@DeepikaxK) February 16, 2021
Lol what, so is that not Rihanna posing bare with a Ganesh pendant on her neck 🙄 is that not unsuitable? Hinduism is just not an aesthetic pattern. Think about if she used one other faith image, would that not be unsuitable too? https://t.co/MCbReutxgE
— 💙 (@samosachaigirl) February 17, 2021
Instances employees author Nardine Saad contributed to this report.
