Rihanna slammed for posing topless with Hindu deity necklace
"This is insulting!" Rihanna has been accused of religious insensitivity for sharing a topless picture of herself while wearing a necklace that features a Hindu god.
"Stop using my religion as an aesthetic!" That's what one Twitter user told Rihanna after she posted a racy picture of herself on social media.
The singer was wearing a necklace with a pendant of the Hindu god, Ganesha.
"It is a holy and sacred figure for us Hindus," one woman wrote.
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Dear @rihanna, stop mocking Hindu Temples & Gods with indecencies. You're insulting the oldest, holiest religion in the world & hurting Hindus sentiments. We request you apologize. We know You & @GretaThunberg are paid global propagandists to incite trouble against Hindus & India pic.twitter.com/LPGc6zRMb7
— Renee Lynn (@Voice_For_India) February 17, 2021
One Twitter user accused Rihanna of cultural appropriation.
"We are so tired & if we raise voice against this cultural appropriation so we are labelled as Hindu extremist. For you all hinduphobics it is just necklace but for us he's god. Please stop telling us what is offensive & what's not."
We are so tired & if we raise voice against this cultural appropriation so we are labelled as hindu extremist. For you all hinduphobics it is just necklace but for us he's god. Please stop telling us wht is offensive & whts not. Audacity of these ppl "hinduphobia doesn't exist"🤡
— vedu💙👀 (@IndicRant) February 16, 2021
But some Twitter users came to Rihanna's defence.
"Ganesha never said you can only believe in me if you're Hindu!" one man wrote.
Another user added: "Being topless is not something of blasphemy as suggested by many."
The singer is yet to comment on the controversy or remove the image from her social media pages.
Here's a look at what others had to say:
Dear Rihanna,
— Shivangi Thakur (@thakur_shivangi) February 16, 2021
Topless hona is a choice but wearing that Ganesh figurine at the end of the chain is totally unacceptable. Grow up!!! pic.twitter.com/AclJaqNPTx
rihanna !! stop using my religion as an aesthetic !! that ganesh figurine at the end of the chain :( is a holy and sacred figure for us hindus
— ً kani | H☀BIUARY (@09S00B) February 15, 2021
okay but are we not going to talk about Rihanna wearing a Ganesh pendant in her picture that she posted today? Hindu appropriation is not an AESTHETIC!!!
— Dimothi (@dimothi) February 15, 2021
There’s rightful outrage on my TL right now over a photo Rihanna posted where she’s half naked, promoting her lingerie line, while wearing a necklace of Ganesh, a Hindu god. It’s 2021 and by now we should all understand that religion is not an aesthetic.
— Deepika (@DeepikaxK) February 16, 2021
I am a Proud Hindu and as an Indian and Maharashtrian I love Lord Ganesha ji - sorry this misuse of Ganesha ji image hurts my feelings & sentiments - will Rihanna Backers in India accept this also? #GaneshaInsulted pic.twitter.com/h5ecalwmQM
— Vikram Singh (@invincibleVeer) February 16, 2021
Those of us who are offended by this pic take a reference of our historical art which is also a UNSCO heritage. Being topless is not something of an blasphemy as suggested by many. If someone offend by Rihanna's post that means they should be offend by attached screenshot as well pic.twitter.com/i5wJcTM9kj
— Prashant Kumar (@iprashantorg) February 16, 2021