Rihanna found herself in a firestorm of controversy this week after a sexy photo shared by the singer caused a backlash from the Hindu community who felt that RiRi was being very inappropriate with one of their most sacred deities. The “Umbrella” singer took to Instagram earlier this week and dropped a seriously hot photo on her social media feed while promoting her popular lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty. However, Rihanna added a little extra spice to her photo by forgetting to wear lingerie!
Instead of the lingerie, the 33-year-old Barbadian baddie covered up using an old-fashioned handbra, as well as a long pearl necklace adorned with the pendant of the Hindu God, Ganesha.
Indian American Hindu activist, Rajan Zed, was especially irate over RiRi’s topless photo and criticized the star in a statement released to the media.
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“Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used as a fashion statement to push a sexy lingerie line or become a tool for sexy fashion,” Zed said from his home state of Nevada.
He added, “Inappropriate usage of sacred Hindu deities or concepts or symbols or icons for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.”
Although Rihanna’s photo has racked up over 10 million likes on Instagram, Rajan Zed wants the singer to remove it and issue an apology over the matter.
“It was deeply trivializing of immensely venerated Lord Ganesha to be displayed in such a manner for mercantile greed,” Zed stated.
Zed is admitting that Ganesha is a popular pendant that many Hindu followers wear, but did not believe Rihanna used hers in a respectful manner.
“Wearing it as a fashion accessory in a one-time photo-shoot in this disrespectful manner for commercial agenda was quite out of line,” he declared.
The statesman is asking Rihanna to immediately remove the “objectionable picture” from her social media accounts and also to “undergo training in religious and cultural sensitivity” in the hopes that the star has a “better understanding of the feelings of communities and customers.”
Zed claims he is just looking for respect to be shown towards Ganesha, as Rihanna also posted the “inappropriate” photo on the religious symbol’s birthday of February 15.
Rihanna has not yet responded to the call for an apology by Rashan Zed.