Shraddha Kapoor backfired with ‘hate comments’ for insensitively sporting the sensitive Native American war bonnet

In 2017, the Victoria Secret Model fashion show came under the wheels of criticisms and hateful comments from the masses for cultural appropriation after their work featured costumes of the Native American culture, which many termed it ‘insensitive’. Although the lingerie company ‘apologised’ that opened a bigger door for people to know the difference between ‘cultural-appreciation’ and ‘cultural-appropriation’, some still struggle to know the difference between the two. Actor Shraddha Kapoor is the latest ‘talk of the town’ for what many called it ‘cultural appropriation’ after she was seen sporting a Native American bonnet. 

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The actor for her latest Dabboo Ratnani Calendar 2019 photoshoot had sported a Native American headdress, a costume which according to Wikipedia, says that ‘wearing of indigenous traditional arts and sacred objects’ by those who have not earned them — especially by non-Natives as fashion or costume — is considered extremely offensive by traditional Native people’’. The Instagram user, Diet Sabya, who is notorious for bomb-blasting celebrities in wardrobe malfunction or copies was quick to notice the headgear of the Stree actor.

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ART OR CULTURAL APPROPRIATION? . . . According to our basic birthright source, Wikipedia, the wearing & displaying of such headdresses, and other ‘indigenous traditional arts and sacred objects’ by those who have not earned them — especially by non-Natives as fashion or costume — is considered extremely offensive by traditional Native people. The ‘controversy’ is part of a wider effort by Native American activists to highlight the ongoing cultural genocide against indigenous peoples (especially in the United States and Canada). The stupid trend of musicians and festival-goers wearing warbonnets across festivals has led to criticism by Native Americans, apologies by non-Natives, and the banning of headdresses as costumes by several big-league music festivals. We thought this was common knowledge. Yet, we are here, talking about it being appropriated by a celebrity calendar. @shraddhakapoor by @dabbooratnani for #dabbooratnanicalendar . #Dietsabya

A post shared by Diet Sabya (@dietsabya) on Jan 29, 2019 at 5:35am PST

After her photo shoot featuring the Native American headgear came into public view, the actor has been shot with a barrage of hate comments, saying that for once, the users agree with the Instagram handle for pointing out this insensitive act on Shraddha’s part.

One user wrote, ‘’For once I agree with you, @dietsabya, another wrote, ‘Ohh cultural appropriation was my thought when I saw this picture. How can people be so ignorant? While another wrote, ‘’ How many time does this exact same thing have to happen for people to learn tho? If you're in the industry and you don't know about all the massive controversies over using Native headdresses as fashion, then sorry, you should find another job’’.

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While this isn’t the first time an actor has come under fire for cultural-appropriation, but that does not 'ok' wearing the cultural costume, which is worn only by the 'earned'. Shraddha and Dabboo Ratnani are yet to reply to the back-lash.