- Adele posted a photo on Sunday as a tribute to London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival, which was held online this year.
- The photo, apparently taken at least year’s event, shows the singer wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican flag bikini.
- Adele was swiftly mocked on Twitter, as many accused her of cultural appropriation.
- As HuffPost notes, Bantu knots are said to have originated centuries ago with the Zulu tribes in southern Africa and are rooted in Black culture.
- Adele’s decision to wear the Jamaican flag has also sparked confusion and memes, including dancehall-inspired remixes of her popular songs.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Adele has inspired a slew of memes and accusations of cultural appropriation with her new Instagram post.
The 32-year-old Grammy winner shared a photo on Sunday as a tribute to London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival, which was held online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London,” she wrote, alongside a photo of herself that was apparently taken at least year’s event.
The photo shows the “Hello” singer wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican flag bikini, as well as acid-wash leggings and a yellow feathered headdress.
http://instagr.am/p/CEh6gF5AwXh
Adele was swiftly mocked and called "problematic" on Twitter.
Her hairstyle posed one major concern: As HuffPost's Dana Oliver notes, Bantu knots are said to have originated centuries ago with the Zulu tribes in southern Africa and are rooted in Black culture.
https://twitter.com/negroarmy/status/1300199830602633216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
This is really problematic! This is cultural appropriation. What is happening to Adele? Also,
For a second I thought it was Katy Perry.— Cristina lei/she/ella (@Lilyspace) August 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/ReadByDollie/status/1300214046617202690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
"If 2020 couldn't get anymore bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for," journalist Ernest Owens wrote on Twitter.
"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
Adele's bikini posed a second issue: Although Notting Hill Carnival's original purpose was to celebrate Caribbean culture and encourage British unity, Adele is decidedly not Jamaican.
Her decision to wear the country's flag has sparked confusion and many memes, including dancehall-inspired versions of her popular songs.
https://twitter.com/chuuzus/status/1300200967045033984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/ayoedebiri/status/1300202622591414273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/Oh_My_Josh69/status/1300242738043138055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
adele when she sets fire to the rain in kingston jamaica https://t.co/zFYbd77Ag8
— Enemy of the Sugondese State (@niconeverfull) August 31, 2020
Adele is an island gyal, she just forgot which one 😭 pic.twitter.com/2v0NwdHN61
— Dianna’s Wife (@RichUnctie) August 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/blaccmass/status/1300245139110219778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/sb_anonyme/status/1300217688803999744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Popular stand-up comedian Jaboukie Young-White even posted a mock video captioned, "adele's hairstylist waiting to go home," which featured a popular Spongebob meme wearing a rastacap.
https://twitter.com/jaboukie/status/1300220533557071873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Representatives for Adele did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
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