Cardi B Apologizes After Fans Accuse Her of Cultural Appropriation

Cardi B was accused of appropriating Hindu culture in a recent photo shoot where she is depicted as the Hindu goddess Durga to promote her latest collaboration with Reebok.

Backlash included tweets like, “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” and “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.”

Cardi responded to the backlash with a video, 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.”

Meanwhile, this month also brought some personal news for Cardi B.