Rapper Cardi B apologises for depicting Hindu goddess in photo
The WAP singer had appeared on the cover of Footwear News in a similar pose as the Hindu goddess Durga, with multiple arms behind her.
Rapper Cardi B. (Photo: Theo Wargo / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Rapper Cardi B apologised for offending the Hindu community after she depicted the goddess Durga in a photoshoot for footwear magazine Footwear News.
In an Instagram Stories post on Nov 11, the WAP singer wrote: “Sorry guys. I didn’t mean to offend or disrespect anybody’s culture. I can’t change the passed (sic) but I’ll be more cautious for the future. Love you guys”.
Cardi B was accused of disrespecting the religion and of cultural appropriation when she appeared on the cover of the magazine in a sleeveless red dress and with multiple arms behind her, while holding a shoe. She was promoting her new Reebok collaboration.
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Netizens called her out, with one user named Aadi listing what was wrong with the image, such as the fact that wearing shoes in a temple is prohibited, the goddess shouldn’t be used as an aesthetic and that the goddess should never be depicted bare-bodied.
In a video on Instagram Stories, Cardi B explained that she had been told by the creatives that she was “going to represent strength, femininity, liberation” and that was something she was all about. She added: “If people think I’m offending their culture or their religion, I want to say it was not my intent. I do not like offending anyone’s religion. I wouldn’t like it if someone did it to my religion”.
The magazine had shared the photo on their Instagram account in a now-deleted post. After the backlash, Footwear News issued an apology through People magazine. The magazine has since replaced the cover with a different photo of the rapper taken during the same photoshoot.
This isn't the first uproar in recent months over the misuse of a religious deity. In July, K-pop group Blackpink faced backlash for using a statue of a Hindu deity as a prop in their music video for How You Like That.
Cardi B apologizes for her Footwear News cover
— Female Rap Room (@FemaleRapRoom) November 11, 2020
“I should’ve done my research, I’m sorry. I can’t change the past but I’m gonna do more research in the future” pic.twitter.com/2nnsGCGyYU
