Rihanna's Harper's Bazaar China cover sparks questions of cultural appropriation
2019-11-11
Some social media users have heaped praise on the images, while others expressed concern about whether it's acceptable for a non-Chinese person to adorn themselves with items from the country's history and culture.
"She snapped but...isn't....that...cultural appropriation?!?!" wrote one Twitter user, with "snapped" being a term for high praise. "Love Rihanna but we can't accept everything she does cause it's her," wrote another.
The debate on cultural appropriation -- who can wear what, and under which circumstances -- has existed for years, though it has become increasingly high-profile.
Just last month, Kim Kardashian West was accused of cultural appropriation after she launched a lingerie brand called Kimono-- also the name of a centuries-old Japanese garment. Several other models and designers have been called out for cultural appropriation in recent years -- Karlie Kloss for dressing like a Japanese geisha in the pages of Vogue, Gigi Hadid for being styled with an afro (also in Vogue) and Kylie Jenner for wearing cornrows.
