Cardi B’s Durga avatar for shoe magazine invites accusation of cultural appropriation

Singer/ rapper Cardi B landed in a soup after posing for a shoe magazine as a Hindu goddess recently. She was accused of cultural appropriation for featuring on the cover of Footwear News -- a shoe magazine – in a Goddess Durga avatar.

The cover page of the November issue of the magazine featured Cardi B posing as the 10-armed Goddess Durga, brandishing shoes instead of weapons. The post, which was eventually deleted from her Instagram page, was for the launch of her signature shoe collection  'Club C Cardi sneaker' in collaboration with Reebok.

She added: “I was not 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 in future.”

Later, the shoe magazine also offered an explanation that read: “She (Cardi B) pays homage to Durga, the Hindu goddess, whose symbols of protection and inner strength resonate as much in modern times as they have through the centuries. Like Durga, Cardi B is a dominant female voice at a critical time.”

However, it seems that the internet was not convinced with the half-baked clarifications that intended to cover up for a “racist” creative.

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. pic.twitter.com/K4QFa431tP

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— This user does not exist :) (@wotermelonsugrx) November 11, 2020

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 pic.twitter.com/ZLVcz0mBlB

— Hana (@MissAmericHANA) November 11, 2020

I’m a Muslim but yup. This is disrespectful and she should be held accountable for it.

— a z m a i n⸆⸉ | 12 years of Fearless (@masqueraderep) November 11, 2020