Rihanna has been accused of cultural appropriation after sharing a topless photo with a pendant depicting the Hindu God Ganesha.
On Tuesday, the singer posted the image of herself posing by an outdoor pool at night wearing a pair of lilac silk shorts, the pendant, and a pair of earrings.
"When @popcaanmusic said 'I don't want to wear lingerie tonight my girl' @savagexfenty [sic]," Rihanna captioned the image.
However, the necklace, which appears to have an ornamental print of the diamond-studded elephant-headed deity, has been disputed by some social media users in India.
"Why is he wearing a Hindu idol in a semi-n-de photo?" one person commented.
"Rihanna, wearing an Indian deity is not a fad, it's not a trend," added another. "It's about respecting indigenous communities."
One person, whose comment has received more than 6,000 likes, wrote: "You are wearing a deity necklace and a Murthi (image of a deity) from my culture which has already been sufficiently culturally appropriate in recent years."
"How is this okay when a person has more than enough resources to at least figure out the meaning of the chains and the pendant around her neck?"
Another simply wrote: "My religion is not your aesthetic."
Rihanna has yet to respond to the criticism.
However, the boxers in the photo have sold out online.
This is not the first time Rihanna has been accused of cultural appropriation.
In 2019, the singer graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar China in a vibrant blue dress that featured pleated, billowing sleeves along with a bright red sash tied around her waist.
Within the magazine, the singer was also shown in a number of different looks that included references to Chinese culture, including a manicure with lotus flowers and dragonflies, fans in her hair, and even a shih tzu dog.
Despite the magazine sharing its intentions behind the images, which was to show a "western style icon and eastern aesthetic", people on social media accused the publication and the singer of cultural appropriation.
