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Cardi B apologizes to Hindu community for cultural appropriation in photoshoot

Posted by Ando, 14 Nov

Photo credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Cardi B has issued a heartfelt apology to the Hindu community, after receiving countless complaints for cultural appropriation in relation to her picture on the November cover of Footwear News magazine.

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In the picture, which was shot by Jora Frantzis, the rapper is depicted as the Hindu goddess Durga, and is holding her Cardi x Reebok Club C sneakers in her hands.

The Hindu community has slammed the picture for being insensitive, and they have accused the 28-year-old rapper of disrespecting and even mocking Hindu culture.

Here are just a few social media statuses:

@raptalkSK
“Cardi B using my religion as a way to promote something and trying to cover it up as a “homage” is disgusting. What she is doing is cultural appropriation and there is no one that can tell me otherwise. The fact that Cardi thinks that she compares to or even has any remote similarity to our goddess makes me sick. Also, Cardi is holding a shoe in her picture. In hinduism, wearing shoes near idols of our gods or into temples is considered disrespectful, so Cardi is completely oblivious, but she thinks that she is some super amazing person for this.”
@wotermelonsugrx
“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.”
@MissAmericHANA
“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 apologising for mocking our culture.”

Cardi B immediately took to her Instagram Story to apologize for offending the Hindu community, adding that it definitely was not her intention to do so.

"When I did the Reebok 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," she began.

"And though it was dope, if people think I'm offending their culture or their religion I want to say I’m sorry.

"That was not my intent. I do not like disrespecting nobody's religion. I wouldn't like people to offend my religion. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful.

“Maybe I should have done my research. I'm sorry, I can't change the past, but I will do more research for the future."

Footwear News also apologized for the cover, saying that its intent was to “show a powerful woman” and not at all to cause offence or disrespect Hindu culture…

"Yesterday we posted content from our exclusive Cardi B cover shoot. One of the images was intended to pay homage to Hindu goddess Durga, and our intent was to show a powerful woman,” the magazine said in a statement to People.

“However, we realize we were not considerate of certain cultural and religious perspectives and how this could be perceived as deeply offensive.

"We take full accountability for this oversight and we apologize. It is important we learn from this example and are sensitive to this sort of religious imagery when creative discussions are taking place in the future.

“Today, we're releasing another cover from the shoot that was a subscriber exclusive."