Hollywood singer Rihanna has once again angered the Hindu community with a “disrespectful” picture in which she wears a diamond-studded pendant featuring the Hindu god Ganesha. Commenters on her Instagram account have called the wearing of the likeness of the god around her neck cultural appropriation.
Tweeting about the picture, a London student tweeted, “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!!!
Another student in London tweeted, “Wearing a Ganesh pendant whilst half naked with absolutely no knowledge of the cultural symbolism it carries, is disrespectful. I expected better from Rihanna, my religion is not your damn aesthetic.”
In October 2020, the businesswoman issued an apology to the Muslim community for using a song featuring sacred Islamic texts in her Savage x Fenty lingerie show. Some showed their ire on Instagram as well.
One follower commented, “You’re wearing a deity necklace and a Murthi [image of a deity] of my culture that’s already been culturally appropriated enough. How is this OK when a person has more than enough resources to at least find out the meaning and significance of the chains and the pendant around their neck?”
While another added, “I hope she returns the necklace because she clearly doesn’t know how to wear it because it’s mad disrespectful. Traditionally, Ganesha represents success and wisdom and statues and paintings of him are widely available in India.”
Another in the comments section suggested she was wearing it on purpose. “This ain’t coincidence … this is after she supported that farmer protest.”
