Adele has sparked a social media backlash with her latest Instagram post, being accused of cultural appropriation.
In yet another picture showcasing her recent stunning transformation, the post shows Adele in a Jamaican flag bikini top. There are gold chains around her neck and wrists, her hair curled into tight knots.
“Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London,” she captioned the pic, a nod to London’s huge annual carnival led by members of the British West Indian community, which has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the 32-year-old star’s choice of attire — and especially a Bantu knot hairstyle usually worn by women of African descent — has led to accusations of cultural appropriation online.
The furore and mocking has spread through social media.
One user accused her of normalising “cultural appropriation” on a “massive platform.” “I strongly advise you to educate yourself and check your white privilege,” one individual wrote. “And to clarify what I’m referring to, it’s the appropriation of a hairstyle which does not belong to white people. It is not yours to wear.”
Another said: “With the increased racial tensions going on right now, I have to ask, whyyy ?? … Why did Adele, a smart, young, educated woman such as herself, post this obviously cultural appropriated outfit/look while tensions are so especially high. Does she not understand what she’s doing?”
One angry viewer even called the outfit “sick and racist.”
The photo was still a very successful post, receiving more than 4 million likes. Other people have been leaping to her defence too. The 15-time Grammy winner has not responded to the backlash as of yet.
Adele has been away from music since 2015’s 25. 5 years is too long without her presence in music.
The singing icon has undergone a dramatic transformation since splitting from husband Simon Konecki last year. Reportedly sticking to a calorie-controlled diet of ‘green juice and 1000 calories-a-day’ has helped achieve her slimmed-down figure.
Check out ‘Rolling in the Deep’ by Adele:
