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Adele was swiftly mocked after wearing Bantu knots and a Jamaican flag bikini in an Instagram post

Aug 31, 2020, 09:19 IST
Insider
Adele performs at the 2017 Grammy Awards.Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS
  • 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.
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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.

Adele was swiftly mocked and called "problematic" on Twitter.

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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.

"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."

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.

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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.

Representatives for Adele did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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