Whenever Adele posts on Instagram, she seems to break the internet. Whether she's writing about the self-help book which changed her life, watching her own Glastonbury set back or showing her love to Queen Bey - her posts are quickly liked by millions, and shared around on Twitter, usually with people retweeting comments about how much they adore her.
She did so again this weekend, as the singer shared a photo of her dressed up to celebrate what would have been Notting Hill Carnival, west London's traditional celebration of Caribbean and black culture. Adele was wearing a bikini top with the Jamaican flag, and had her hair tied in Bantu knots - a traditional African hairstyle.
But the image started a debate online, as some accused her of cultural appropriation. 'If 2020 couldn't get any more bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for,' one Twitter user wrote. Another user wrote in the Instagram comments, 'Bantu knots are NOT to be worn by white people in any context, period.' Explaining why many are angry about Adele's outfit, another wrote: 'Unfollowing tonight. Please note that I’m from London. While it may appear cute to some to show this type of appreciation, it’s not. Many Black and Latina ladies have been denied/fired from jobs and young children sent home from school with hairstyles like this. This has happened in the UK, the US and other countries.'
However, the singer has been defended by fans - along with celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Alexandra Burke and Popcaan. Leaving a comment on the singer's original post, supermodel Naomi, whose mother was born in Jamaica, commented with two love heart emojis and two pictures of the Jamaican flag and Jamaican music star Popcaan replied to Adele’s picture with supportive fist and heart emojis. Meanwhile, Alexandra Burke told the BBC's Carnival tribute show, 'I see the pic. She looks hot. She's obviously been working on her body, that for me is a big deal. She's looking good. As a Jamaican girl myself, my girl has grown up in black culture. People forget she’s from Tottenham. She probably eats jerk chicken all the time like all of us. All I’m saying is the girl looked good, leave her. Allow her, man. If Popcaan is going to endorse it and say yes my girl you’re wearing the flag and you’re wearing it well. Let her live her best life, leave her alone. We love Adele.'
Tottenham’s Labour MP David Lammy also called the accusations 'poppycock'. 'This humbug totally misses the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival and the tradition of "dress up" or "masquerade",' he tweeted. 'Adele was born and raised in Tottenham, she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the Haters.'
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