Cardi B to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood stars slammed for cultural appropriation

Rapper Cardi B became the latest Hollywood star to be accused of cultural appropriation for posing like the Hindu goddess Durga for a photoshoot. However, she is not alone. Hollywood is filled with examples of stars borrowing elements of religion, race and culture, without being sensitive to what they may represent.

Here's a look at stars who faced a similar backlash.

Pic: Instagram

Rapper Cardi B created a stir on social media when she posed as the Hindu goddess Durga for a photoshoot. The singer was called out for cultural appropriation for the photo that saw her with 10 arms and holding a shoe in her hands.

Following the backlash, the rapper issued a clarification and apologised for hurting religious and cultural sentiments and even vowed to do “more research” henceforth.

Pic: Twitter

Multi-Grammy award-winning singer, Adele hit social media trends recently but sadly, it wasn't for her music. The singer posted a picture of herself from the Notting Hill Carnival in London, dressed in a Jamaican-flag string bikini top and hair tied up in Bantu knots. While fans showered her with love for her stunning transformation, there were several others who accused her of cultural appropriation and criticised her for trying to use an Afro hairstyle.

Pic: Adele Instagram

Kim Kardashian had to brave a similar storm in April when she donned a maang-tikka. The star was accused of appropriating Indian culture when she shared the pictures on her Instagram handle. "My culture isn’t your ‘aesthetic’ or ‘style’, so please show some respect," a social media user said while slamming the star.

Pic: Kim Kardashian Instagram

Beyoncé may have charmed the Indian audience with Coldplay's 'Hymn For The Weekend', but as it seems, there were a few who weren't impressed. The music video that dropped in January 2016, irked quite a few for its stereotypical portrayal of the country besides featuring Beyoncé in traditional Indian attire with traditional henna et al.

Pic: YouTube

Selena Gomez was slammed by Indians for wearing a bindi on her forehead during a performance at the 2017 MTV Movie Video Awards. The singer received backlash for wearing the bindi as a fashion statement and not realising the religious significance. Amidst the controversy, actress Priyanka Chopra stepped in to defend Gomez.

Pic: Selena Gomez Instagram

Back in 2013, singer Katy Perry was slammed for wearing a geisha-inspired outfit for her performance at an award show. The actress, who is known for her colourful and quirky music videos, also created a stir when she debuted her 'Dark Horse' video which was full of symbols and images inspired by Ancient Egypt.

Pic: YouTube