US rapper Cardi B issued an apology on Wednesday after receiving backlash for posing as Hindu deity Durga for a footwear magazine.
Promoting a Reebok sneaker collection for Footwear News magazine, the rapper, while wearing a red off-shoulder dress by Georges Hobeika, posed holding a red shoe in her hands along with eight other hands behind her. The post caption read, “…she pays homage to Durga, the Hindu goddess, whose symbols of protection and inner strength resonate as much in modern times as they have through the centuries. Like Durga, Cardi B is a dominant female voice at a critical time.”
Social media users slammed the rapper for disrespecting the Hindu goddess. Many called her out, claiming that she was not paying homage and the post was not culturally appropriate.
Cardi b did not pay “homage” to the Hindu goddess Durga by holding a shoe in her hand, this is plain disrespect and in no way cultural appreciation. she can’t getaway with this without addressing and apologizing for mocking our culture pic.twitter.com/ZLVcz0mBlB
— Hana 🤍 (@MissAmericHANA) November 11, 2020
People are saying Cardi B is paying homeage to our hindu goddess Durga. So as a Hindu I want to say that:
1-Wearing a shoe in a temple is prohibited
2-Durga maa is not to be used as an aesthetic
3-Durga maa is NEVER depicted bare bodied
4-THIS. IS. NOT. HOMAGE. IT’S. DISRESPECT. pic.twitter.com/K4QFa431tP— This user does not exist 🙂 (@wotermelonsugrx) November 11, 2020
CARDI B OUT HERE USING A HINDU GODDESS AS HER AESTHETIC WHAT THE FUCK pic.twitter.com/3ysFx1YHqx
— Varu ❀ (@yourlocalbicc) November 11, 2020
Posting a series of stories on Instagram, Cardi B clarified that she was not trying to be disrespectful and admitted that she should have done her research before the photoshoot. She added that the past cannot be changed and that she would do more research in the future.
cardi B
“When I did the shoot, the creatives told me I was going to represent a Goddess; that she represents strength, femininity and liberation, and that’s something I love and I’m all about and I thought that it was dope. But if people think I’m offending their culture or their religion I want to say that 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 rapper said.
Following the controversy, Footwear News removed the controversial post from their Instagram account.
