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Awake but not woke? Rihanna pummeled for white women in braids, takes anti-censorship stand

September 27, 2021 | | Print Article

Iconic singer Rihanna is being thrashed on social media for allowing two white women to wear braids in her third Savage X Fenty fashion show while being praised for wearing an anti-censorship t-shirt as a political statement.

The 33-year-old billionaire called on some of the biggest names in showbiz that included Cindy Crawford, Irina Shayk, Gigi Hadid, Lourdes Leon, Emily Ratjkowski, Nas, Ricky Martin, and Normani to showcase her latest lingerie line for Savage X Fenty Vol. 3 in Los Angeles last week. The premiere was reportedly a huge success.

As she headed to the recording studio on Friday in New York City, she was photographed wearing a red, white, and blue “Think while it’s still legal” t-shirt that seemed to make a political statement clapping back against censorship and compliance. The move appears to align with the recent actions of rap artist Nicki Minaj who has taken a stance against forced vaccinations.

Since the singer is very business and culturally savvy, the t-shirt was obviously not a mistake. Rihanna has 211 million followers on Instagram and Twitter. She has millions more through other channels as well so her message taking a stand against bullying and censorship will have a huge cultural reach.

What caused even more of an uproar than the shirt was her choice to have two non-black celebrities, Vanessa Hudgens and Emily Ratajkowski, wear braids in her fashion show. The left started yelling that it was cultural appropriation almost immediately. The show was not about race… it was about Rihanna’s message of “body positivity” according to the singer.

The blowback on Twitter was harsh:

The claim is specious in nature and has no basis. Black culture does not have a legitimate claim on braids. They have been worn since the beginning of time by all races, including the Vikings and Native Americans.

While Rihanna is pushing what she sees as true diversity as well as freedom of thought, people are unbelievably accusing her of selling out to white women for having them wear braids in a fashion show.

A previous Savage X Fenty show that occurred in October 2020 was also accused of cultural appropriation for including a song that some Muslims found offensive, according to Maxim. Coucou Chloe’s “Doom” played during a performance, containing passages from the Hadith, which is Islamic scripture.

Muslims called out Rihanna for the song, claiming it was “disrespectful” and “a mockery” of their religion.

Rihanna adamantly apologized at the time, stating that it was a “huge oversight that was unintentionally offensive.”

“I would, more importantly, like to apologize for this honest yet careless mistake. We understand that we hurt many of our Muslim brothers and sisters, and I’m incredibly disheartened by this,” she stated on Instagram.

The singer is not the first to be accused of cultural appropriation by the perpetually offended. Celebrities Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have both been accused of it because they chose to wear braids. Singer Justin Bieber was also slammed for the appropriation of black culture because he dared to wear dreadlocks.

Rihanna’s statement was cheered on social media by many:

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Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
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