“I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. Maybe I should have done my research.,” American rapper Cardi B said after being accused of disrespecting Hindu culture with her recent Footwear News cover.
Netizens were shocked when an official photo depicting the rapper as Hindu goddess Durga – while holding a red sneaker in her hands – was released last week.
Maybe the magazine was just trying to be cute by paying their homage to the Hindu goddess on their latest cover, since November is the month when Hindus celebrate Diwali or the Festival of Lights.
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| The original Footwear News cover featuring Cardi B posing as Hindu goddess Durga, which has since been replaced with another photo. |
But this “homage” misfired terribly, as Hindu netizens and fans pointed out: Hindus don’t wear shoes at their places of worship as doing so is deemed disrespectful.
Attempting a cool cover by associating a Hindu goddess with footwear is definitely a misstep.
Cardi B apologizes for her Footwear News cover
— Female Rap Room (@FemaleRapRoom) November 11, 2020
“I should’ve done my research, I’m sorry. I can’t change the past but I’m gonna do more research in the future” pic.twitter.com/2nnsGCGyYU
Cardi posted her apology on Instagram Stories, stating, "When I did the Reebok shoot, the creatives told me I was going to represent a goddess, that she represents strength, femininity and liberation.
"And though it was dope, if people think I'm offending their culture or their religion I want to say I’m sorry. That was not my intent. I do not like disrespecting nobody's religion. I wouldn't like people to offend my religion. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful. Maybe I should have done my research. I'm sorry, I can't change the past, but I will do more research for the future."
As per Billboard.com, Footwear News also issued an apology via People, explaining that their “intent was to show a powerful woman.”
"We take full accountability for this oversight and we apologize. It is important we learn from this example and are sensitive to this sort of religious imagery when creative discussions are taking place in the future,” the shoe magazine stated.
The offensive cover has since been replaced with a more appropriate photo.
(Photo source: Jora Frantzis | Footwear News)
