Cardi B is apologizing to the Hindu community after she was accused of appropriating Hindu culture in a recent photo shoot.
Earlier this week, the "WAP" rapper released photos to promote her latest footwear collaboration with Reebok that showed her depicted as the Hindu goddess Durga. The backlash was swift as fans and critics took to Twitter to call her out for "culture appropriation."
“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,” one critic wrote. Another added, “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.”
On Wednesday (November 11), Cardi took to Instagram Live to apologize, saying, “When I did the Reebok shoot, the creative [team] was telling me, ‘You’re gonna represent a goddess,’ that she represents strength, femininity and liberation. That’s something that I love and I’m all about and I thought it was dope.”
She added, “But if people, I’m offending their culture or their religion, I want to say I’m sorry., that was not my intent. I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, maybe I should’ve done my research and I’m sorry. I’m gonna do more research for the future.”
As fans know, Cardi is gearing up for the release of her Reebok sneaker on Friday (November 13). Earlier this week, the 28-year-old rapper shared footage of herself unboxing her upcoming footwear collection, and let's just say, it was an unboxing like none other.
In the Instagram video, two ladies are shown opening up a HUGE gold “B” box that then unravels a pink carpet. Once the carpet rolls on to the floor, the ladies take out a smaller red box, that is also in the shape of a “B,” which opens up into the shape of an open mouth that shows Cardi's new “Club C Cardi” sneakers right on top of the tongue.
"Wow ! Wow ! I love my @Reebok collab packaging," the "WAP" rapper captioned the clip on Sunday (November 9). "I never seen it in person.These will be deliver tomorrow.I love it !I hope you guys love it ❤️❤️."
Photo: Getty Images