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The singer, who turned cover-girl for Interview Magazine’s latest issue, was accused of ‘sexualizing’ nuns and disrespecting the religious order.The photos and video of the 36-year-old star, drew sharp criticism from social media users who viewed the imagery as offensive to Christians and Catholics.
In response to the photos, comments flooded Rihanna’s social media platforms, with many expressing disappointment. One user condemned the shoot as ‘religious mockery,’ while others questioned why Rihanna opted to ‘mock a religion’ with her fashion choices.
Despite the backlash, a few of Rihanna’s followers came to her defence, comparing the situation to individuals dressing as ‘slutty nuns’ for Halloween and questioning the consistency of criticism in such cases.
Meanwhile, tweets indicate that her photoshoot has triggered a meme-fest with many taking to Tik-Tok to share their hilarious recreation of the images.
This is not the first time Rihanna has faced backlash over cultural and religious insensitivity. In 2021, she was accused of ‘cultural appropriation‘ for wearing a pendant depicting the Hindu god Ganesha in a topless photo. Additionally, in a previous incident, she received criticism for using sacred Islamic texts in the soundtrack of her Savage x Fenty lingerie show.
Rihanna, known for pushing boundaries with her fashion choices has often left netizens with divided opinions. Her appearance at the MET Gala 2018, dressed in a Pope-inspired ensemble designed by John Galliano, stirred controversy, with some praising the creativity while others slammed it and found it offensive. The singer wore the elaborate preal-studded creation in the context of the event’s theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”