Looks like controversy and Cardi B walk hand-in-hand these days as once again the rapper caused a stir with her latest stint! This time she managed to face flak from Netizens and desi Twitteratis with her latest footwear campaign.
Unveiling Reebok’s latest sneaker collection on Magazine Footwear News’ latest issue, the 28-year-old rapper donned a red Georges Hobeika dress and posed as Hindu Goddess Durga with a sneaker in her hand. Although Cardi posed with an intention to pay homage to the deity whose symbols of protection and inner strength, it did not go down well with the netizens.
Many called out the rapper for cultural appropriation and disrespecting other’s feelings. Some called her out for comparing herself to the Indian Goddess.
Now #CardiB need Indian goddess Durga for shoe sale seem like another gods are losing business pic.twitter.com/YL8aaiXfBC
— Himanshu Paliwal (@PaliwalGlobal) November 11, 2020
My culture is not how you MARKET your PRODUCT. SHIT LIKE THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE HAVE PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE ASKING US THE STUPIDEST OF QUESTIONS#CardiB https://t.co/d0TCyYIod5 pic.twitter.com/ZQxSC9k7du
— Très Belle (@TresBelle08) November 11, 2020
So some people are saying Cardi B is paying homeage to our hindu goddess Durga.
As a hindu, I want to say that, durga maa is never depicted bare bodied.
Secondly it is prohibited to wear shoes in a temple and this woman is holding a shoe on her hand depicting goddess Durga? pic.twitter.com/Dr45M4azmO— Isha (Rt pinned pls) (@onlytearskaty) November 11, 2020
Moments after the outrage, Cardi issued an apology on her Instagram story stating that she didn’t mean to offend anyone’s culture or religion. “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 though it was dope, 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.,” she said.
“When people dress as Virgin Mary and Jesus, as long as they do it in a beautiful, graceful way…. But 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,” the rapper concluded.
Lack of homework, honest mistake, or a straight-up cultural appropriation, what are your views on this?
(Source- Footwear News)