Beyoncé accused of appropriating Egyptian culture
It’s very rare that Beyoncé gets things wrong. From her pregnancy announcements to her daughter Blue Ivy‘s beauty range, she usually gets her promotional material spot on.
But her latest collection has caused some upset.
Last week, Bey released her new spring merch collection, which features images of herself dressed as Queen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt.
The striking pictures of the superstar in a jeweled headpiece appear on a variety of T-shirts, hoodies, and crop tops.
But some people aren’t happy about it, taking to Twitter to express their discontent, with some even calling the pop star out for cultural appropriation.
Beyonce the culture vulture is now trying to sell Nefertiti merchandise. What a rat pic.twitter.com/3pK6ltdNNZ
— ?Arabian Egyptian (@ArarariZira) March 28, 2018
If katy had done that all of fake woke stan twitter would be dragging her for “cultural appropriation” but when it comes to beyoncé… https://t.co/hnbxke9EfW
— ? (@perrysfreak) March 28, 2018
Sorry but this is cultural appropriation. We shouldn’t ignore it just bc it’s Beyoncé…. https://t.co/WumTm3tBIZ
— Expectations saved me (@sappholt1) April 1, 2018
The problem, it seems, is that not everyone believes Beyoncé should profit from Nefertiti’s image.
Of course, some fans immediately leaped to Beyonce’s defence, claiming the singer wasn’t guilty of culture appropriation but in fact culture appreciation.
Nefertiti was of black descent and please explain to me how this is cultural appropriation?
— Fatty (@BADDlE_BEY) March 29, 2018
Cultural appropriation? Last time I checked isn’t Nefertiti Egyptian? Aren’t the real Egyptians black? Isn’t #Beyoncé black? You all need to do your research and stop pushing your tiny little brains so hard. Don’t let the fat cats trying to rewrite history fuck over Ur tiny minds pic.twitter.com/9DtN90mN4D
— Yoncé Grim ? (@CoriiKerii) March 29, 2018
This isn’t the first time she has channeled another culture. Her 2017 Grammys performance featured her dressed as Oshun, the Yoruba deity.
Beyoncé also isn’t the only person to use Egyptian history as inspiration.
Rihanna appeared on the cover of Vogue Arabia “paying homage to Nefertiti” last year, which came in for a certain amount of criticism.
The topic of cultural appropriation has been making headlines of late. Earlier this year Kim Kardashian caused upset after revealing her newly braided and beaded hair, citing Bo Derek as her inspiration.
But, although many were quick to compliment Kardashian on her latest look, the “Bo Derek” claim of the braids faced backlash, with some Twitter users saying she was “trolling black women” and that she “did not get [her] inspiration from white women.”
The reality star’s sisters, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, were also accused of cultural appropriation last year with the release of their “Chinese takeout” handbag.
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