The Internet is accusing Adele of cultural appropriation following her latest Instagram post
Adele has been accused of cultural appropriation by some people on the internet, after she posted a picture of herself on Instagram wearing a Jamaican flag bikini with her hair in Bantu knots.
The 32-year-old singer posted the photo in celebration of Notting Hill Carnival, which happens every year in London, writing the caption, "Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London."
However, Adele has been called out by some people online for what they believe to be cultural appropriation, particularly as she is wearing her hair in Bantu knots, a hairstyle typically worn by Black women.
Journalist Ernest Owens tweeted the picture of Adele, writing, "If 2020 couldn't get anymore [sic] bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for. This officially marks all of the top white women in pop as problematic. Hate to see it."
If 2020 couldn't get anymore bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for.
This officially marks all of the top white women in pop as problematic.
Hate to see it. pic.twitter.com/N9CqPqh7GX— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 30, 2020
Meanwhile, another Twitter user wrote that Bantu knots are "a protective style created by and for black women," adding that "black women are ostracized for their natural hair but Adele wearing this is okay?"
i didn’t say the flag was cultural appropriation lmao. i had an issue with the bantu knots bc that is a protective style created by and for black women. black women are ostracized for their natural hair but Adele wearing this is okay??? it’s worms lol idc.
— praise ✨ (@praise_png) August 30, 2020
Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London 🇬🇧🇯🇲
A post shared by Adele (@adele) on Aug 30, 2020 at 3:17pm PDT
However, others disagreed, saying that Adele's picture constituted "cultural appreciation," rather than cultural appropriation. One Twitter user wrote, "Read up on the Notting Hill Carnival before you comment on this photo. In my humble opinion, this is not cultural appropriation. It is cultural appreciation! That festival is a celebration of different cultures."
Nah, bro. Read up on the Notting Hill Carnival before you comment on this photo. In my humble opinion, this is not cultural appropriation. It is cultural appreciation! That festival is a celebration of different cultures.
— Tiela Leo 🏳️🌈 (@TielaLeo) August 30, 2020
Another wrote, "These people need to learn how to differentiate cultural appreciation and appropriation. Adele isn't getting more credit than Jamaicans for celebrating the carnival here with bantu knots, pretending Jamaican culture is hers or exploiting it for clout. Let her be."
Exactly. These people need to learn how to differentiate cultural appreciation and appropriation. Adele isn't getting more credit than jamaicans for celebrating the carnival here with bantu knots, pretending Jamaican culture is hers or exploiting it for clout. Let her be.
— Jess Pearson (@JessyDiandra) August 31, 2020
Adele is yet to respond to the reaction.
We have reached out to Adele's representatives for comment.
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