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Rihanna called out after posting topless photo wearing pendant of Hindu deity

Rihanna called out after posting topless photo wearing pendant of Hindu deity

This isn't the first time the singer has been criticised for disrespecting other cultures, religions.
17 Feb, 2021

Oh RiRi, you’ve done it again. US-Barbadian pop star Rihanna is back in the news and facing accusations of cultural appropriation and religious insensitivity after posting a picture of herself wearing a pendant with an icon of the Hindu deity Ganesha.

In the photo, she’s topless and covering her breasts with her hand. She’s also wearing a pair of lavender boxers from her Savage X Fenty lingerie line. Around her neck is a lavender pendant of Ganesha.

Users have been calling her out under the post for appropriating their culture and misusing their religious symbol.

One user pointed out that someone with the resources like Rihanna shouldn't be making mistakes like these and we agree. Rihanna is one of the richest people in the world. You would think she could hire someone to teach her how to respect other people's religious symbols.

Another said Rihanna wearing the necklace was okay as long as she respected Hinduism.

Indian nationalists have begun reporting Rihanna to the authorities and filing complaints against her for the post.

This isn't the first time Rihanna has made headlines for poor choices and cultural insensitivity. In 2013, she was asked to leave the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi after she held an "inappropriate" photoshoot there.

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

People criticised the pictures and said they were too "suggestive" given the location the photos were taken.

In October 2020, she apologised after using a song for her Savage X Fenty fashion show that included Hadith in it. The song was titled 'Doom' by artist Coucou Chloe and used part of a Hadith about the day of judgement.

Photo: Rihanna Instagram Stories via BBC
Photo: Rihanna Instagram Stories via BBC

In her apology, she called it an "honest and careless mistake". But how many mistakes does it take for someone to get a clue and do a basic information check before posting pictures or using songs.

She also made headlines in India last month when she became one of the first international celebrities to highlight the farmers' protests. She received immense backlash from the Indian government and many Indian people, who accused her of interference. Actress Kangana Ranaut, who backs the ruling BJP, called her out on Twitter and effigies of her and teen climate activist Greta Thunberg were burnt during a protest in Delhi.

Comments

Farhan Feb 17, 2021 03:24pm
We should respect everyone’s Religion.
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bhaRAT© Feb 17, 2021 03:39pm
Hindus ire is justified here, despite the fact that in the past the Cadres of RSS Pathshala supported her suggestive pictures at the Abu Dhabi mosque.
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IKL Feb 17, 2021 03:41pm
We are fortunate - the world's Gods are all powerful and above all this. All Powerful Gods do not need people to rise up and create hatred and violence whenever religion is threatened by the perceived slights we ourselves feel. Only those insecure in the power of their beliefs need to call for revenge. This is a great gift that the truely religious among us can teach mankind. Try it out youself in your own dealings at home and at work - and see how much better a world our Gods have created for us.
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Chrís Dăn Feb 17, 2021 03:44pm
The lady is an international media influencer.
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AKS Feb 17, 2021 03:45pm
All publicity is good publicity.
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Hemant Feb 17, 2021 03:45pm
Why someone should even go near to access such porn star Twitter and Instagram account! Useless person who thinks that body is the only thing she has to earn living!!
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Ali sardar Feb 17, 2021 03:58pm
No religion should be insulted like that, Islam or Hinduism
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RationalBabu Feb 17, 2021 04:33pm
Apart from being a good musician she is no more than an ignorant airhead!
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Abrol Feb 17, 2021 04:48pm
@Farhan Nothing disrespectful about what she did. She should have, in that very pose she gave, have allowed the 'devotees' of Ganesh to worship him and everything around him, to the satisfaction of the 'devotees'.
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Zak Feb 17, 2021 04:51pm
India messed with the wrong celebrity. Hahaha.
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John Feb 17, 2021 05:16pm
Where is the picture? I want to see it .. what did dawn not post it?
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Ghaznavi Feb 17, 2021 05:17pm
Indians should respect her freedom of expression.
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Just Saying Feb 17, 2021 05:19pm
She is doing it deliberately! I don’t know who she is but seems popular. People must boycott her. You must respect all religions. Hindus( not all) who supported her against Muslims now know that there are boundaries that must not be crossed.
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Browngirl Feb 17, 2021 05:26pm
Twitter will not suspend her. Money comes first.
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Tuk Feb 17, 2021 05:43pm
Only people who push the borders contribute to humanity!
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Rahim Feb 17, 2021 05:55pm
Yeah Indians deserve this
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NSG Feb 17, 2021 05:56pm
When you have bath with a pendant around your neck, you are naked too ... whats so disrespecting? In fact it is publicity for the religion ....
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Shiven Feb 17, 2021 05:58pm
I think we should leave western ppl whatever they do. I mean they are totally senseless towards their own religion, leave question of other religions. And how many times will we object & complain ?
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Omveer Singh Feb 17, 2021 06:15pm
@bhaRAT© Either change your name or your religion. You seem to have a rabid hated for Hindus and India.
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Ga Feb 17, 2021 06:21pm
Freedom of Speech!
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Bob Feb 17, 2021 06:46pm
No doubt success has gone into her head.
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kp Feb 17, 2021 07:04pm
Everyone has right to do whatever he/she want,(Unless he is harming someone), Being a Hindu i have no problem. Let her enjoy whatever makes her feel good. Religion is not religion if its too week to be maligned by such acts.
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riz1 Feb 17, 2021 07:07pm
@bhaRAT© "Hindus ire is justified here" Nope, as a devout Hindu, I support Rihanna's right to express herself in whatever way possible. Most Hindus like me will never become sensitive bigots like certain others. No wonder we allowed many to come to the subcontinent, put their roots, proclaim their superiority and even lead the subcontinent. For some time across generations. Period.
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well-wisher Feb 17, 2021 07:24pm
Be respectful, Rihanna and don't lower yourself.
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Ibrahim S Feb 17, 2021 07:27pm
@Farhan , I can't agree more, I hope it's not doctored to damage her reputation for supporting farmers protest in India .
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Bhabin Feb 17, 2021 07:29pm
Some pakistani supporting rehana are forgotten that Hindu also live in pakistan..
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PMD Feb 17, 2021 07:36pm
I didn't see any disrespect here. Many Hindu ladies wear Hindu diety pendants and charms which dangles from their necks and waists.
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Ali Feb 17, 2021 07:44pm
To all my Hindu Friends, We need to be bigger & smarter than getting affected by actions of a Prostitute.
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Dati Feb 17, 2021 08:18pm
@PMD She was naked (topless) when taking the picture !
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Chrís Dăn Feb 17, 2021 08:56pm
@riz1 yes as a secular one needs to respect ultimate freedom of opinion. Fortunately India is secular.
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T-man Feb 17, 2021 09:08pm
Hindus should also get mad when minorities are abused and killed by RSS led terrorists in India.
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Zulfiqar Feb 17, 2021 10:29pm
Not respect someone’s religion is sheer ignorance. Rihanna should apologize.
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Yash Feb 17, 2021 11:05pm
@Zak.Grow up please.
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Harambe Feb 17, 2021 11:07pm
@Chrís Dăn: Is that a recommendation?
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skg Feb 17, 2021 11:31pm
@Bhabin They don't care for them.
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Harambe Feb 17, 2021 11:44pm
@Chrís Dăn ;No limits?What can I say about women in your life --freely?
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Abu Harun Feb 17, 2021 11:48pm
Supporting poor farmers or any mistreated person in the world is our duty but disrespect for peoples religion is not acceptable
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Morning Star Feb 18, 2021 02:24am
I hope this time RSS will learn their lesson that how does it feel when someone insults your religion
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Zak Feb 18, 2021 02:39am
Way to go Rihanna.
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Ahsan Gul Feb 18, 2021 03:59am
All, Hindus or christens not only But all should respect as it effect our young generation! Thanks
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Zak Feb 18, 2021 04:11am
@RationalBabu : Good Musician? Is this a joke?
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raheel Feb 18, 2021 05:40am
I think Rihanna looks great and very artistic picture. RSS are overly sensitive and grinding an axe against Rihanna for her support to the tortured Sikh farmers community.
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Beautifulmind Feb 18, 2021 08:28am
This is Rihanna, she can buy half of the country just like that, those threats can be effective for a third world country star. Whats happening to minorities in India , lets check that out first, Neckless is not slaughtering people.
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Zaraq Feb 18, 2021 08:51am
Freedom of speech ?
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Ankita Feb 18, 2021 09:20am
Some people enjoy provocation, and giving in to that provocation is probably a win for the provocateur. Lets ignore it as an example of ignorance, after all, Hinduism is about multiple pathways to the single truth, if she believes that's here path, let her walk it. Similarly, we should also ignore people trying to use it for their own political capital.
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Rafi Feb 18, 2021 09:21am
@Ali Your labeling of the singer is very offensive. You should not have attacked her character.
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Umesh Feb 18, 2021 09:31am
@Rahim Really. Then you deserve on more Bangladesh.
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Ravi Sanku Feb 18, 2021 09:37am
I am a Hindu from India and I am not at all offended by what she did. Religion shouldn't make us fanatics.
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Xy Feb 18, 2021 10:47am
@bhaRAT© Frankly as a Hindu, I have no issues with her actions. Just because I respect something does not mean everyone else should. I do not expect she set out to deliberately hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Let her be...
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sach baat Feb 18, 2021 11:27am
@Ghaznavi Yes Indians will and there will be no Samuel Paty.
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NSG Feb 18, 2021 11:42am
Maybe she converted to Sanatan Dharma
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Anonymouseee Feb 18, 2021 12:28pm
This is freedom of speech and expression that the Indians in their country run by BJP won’t understand. Don’t be so insecure about your religion.
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Chrís Dăn Feb 18, 2021 01:07pm
@Hemant she is an internationally recognized a "pop" artist and not a "porn" artist. Why to come down to inappropriate language?
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Chrís Dăn Feb 18, 2021 01:07pm
@Xy thats a civilized approach!!! Bravo.
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Chrís Dăn Feb 18, 2021 01:08pm
@Ravi Sanku exactly and our religion is our very personal matter.
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Dr Quantum Feb 18, 2021 06:24pm
As a Hindu I don't see anything wrong in this. But she should use it regularly and not just for photoshoot. I know majority agrees with me...
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RationalBabu Feb 18, 2021 11:13pm
@Anonymouseee look who is talking!
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RationalBabu Feb 18, 2021 11:17pm
@Dr Quantum what’s the point if she doesn’t understand the significance of the religious pendant?
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M S P Feb 20, 2021 05:07am
@Ghaznavi Will you keep quote if she mocks your religion
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