Rihanna sparks new outrage in India with topless Hindu god photo

[Morpheus]

Rihanna sparks new outrage in India with topless Hindu god photo

Social media users and politicians said her post was "derogatory", accusing her of disrespecting Hindu gods and hurting local sentiment.

AFP Updated 18 Feb 2021

Pop icon Rihanna has been accused of mocking a Hindu god after she was pictured topless with a pendant of Ganesha around her neck, sparking a furore in India.

Images of the lingerie photoshoot come just weeks after she upset the Indian government by commenting on huge farmers' protests that pose a major challenge to New Delhi.
The latest offending tweet to the superstar's more than 100 million Twitter followers is part of promotions for Rihanna's lingerie line Savage X Fenty.

The photo was also shared on her Instagram account, which has 91.4 million followers.
Social media users and politicians in India on Wednesday said her post was "derogatory", accusing her of disrespecting Hindu gods and hurting local sentiment.

"It's appalling to see how @Rihanna shamefully mocks our beloved Hindu God #Ganesha," tweeted Ram Kadam, a state legislator from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist party.




"This exposes how #Rihanna has no idea or respect for Indian culture, tradition and our issues here," he added.


The right-wing World Hindu Council said it had filed police complaints against Facebook and Twitter for hosting the picture and demanded action against Rihanna's social media accounts.


Earlier this month tweets from Rihanna and other celebrities on protests in India by farmers against new agriculture laws sparked anger at India's foreign ministry, which called their comments "sensationalist".


Critics say Hindu nationalism has been on the rise in officially secular India under Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Rihanna sparks new outrage in India with topless Hindu god photo

Social media users and politicians said her post was "derogatory", accusing her of disrespecting Hindu gods and hurting local sentiment.

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[terry5]

Rasta don’t like pagans
Run the tune

 

[Nefarious]

Ganesh idol had front row seat

 

[Kingslayerr]

Good that she's not in india, i dont think shell ever visit that country. She'll get lynched probably in the first 10mins.

 

[jamahir]

I have seen the picture. She was unwise posing like that and with that pendant. She so recently commented on the Indian farmer protests but with this posing she has lost a bit of that seriousness she had gained by that comment.

 

[atan651]

squeeze, squeeze!

 

[Protest_again]

I have seen the picture. She was unwise posing like that and with that pendant. She so recently commented on the Indian farmer protests but with this posing she has lost a bit of that seriousness she had gained by that comment.

may be Rihanna wanted to come out of that mess? It is illogical for her to wade into India's internal affairs in the first place.

 

[Michael Corleone]

I don’t know about you lads. Me likey

 

[Beast]

may be Rihanna wanted to come out of that mess? It is illogical for her to wade into India's internal affairs in the first place.

She want to heap more fire to spite the Indian and support Indian farmer.

 

[Hassan Guy]

Man don’t post a thread with Rihanna and topless in the title


I’m disappointed now

 

[jamahir]

may be Rihanna wanted to come out of that mess?

By creating a bigger controversy ?

It is illogical for her to wade into India's internal affairs in the first place.

Well, we as humans have the right to speak of issues in any other human society. If someone elsewhere has a good idea or advise we can accept it graciously. For example, the feudalistic IT / ITES industry of India can accept the accept of say Cuba and make the working conditions of techies in Pune, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Madras and Hyderabad more humane. And the progressives of India have the right / automatic permission to advise on how Afghanistan can be better governed towards peace.

Thus Rihanna was within her rights to comment on critical Indian affairs. A final example : Modi's government brought out the CAA act which sought to intervene in the affairs of countries surrounding India.

 

[RIP Pak LAW]

picture or it didn't happened

 

[insight-out]

If it hurts the religious sentiments of Hindus, then she should not have done it, or she should apologize. Art and freedom of expression do not get a pass when it comes to respect and sensitivity. I would equate this with the way Muslims would feel if she wore a pendant with the word "Allah" in the same state of undress.

Having said that, there is no need to get all agitated about this. There will always be idiots who will do stupid things out of ignorance or malice. We shouldn't let them control our emotions. In the absence of any authority or control of such behaviour, we should ignore such people who really are only seeking attention.

 

[El Sidd]

Is Rihanna a Hindu?

 

[Indus Pakistan]

I can't see what this drama is all about? Being semi naked and flounting tops is part of Hindu tradition. Just look at the statues and carvings. The whole idea of covering your body and placing something over your head is a Muslim imposition.