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Adele is causing a stir on IG again, this time for cultural appropriation

A few months back, I covered the new look Adele had donned, having lost a considerable amount of weight. However, this time around, the controversy is over her outfit.

In celebration of what would have been the Notting Hill Carnival, the star adorned a Jamaican flag bikini top and Bantu/Zulu knots in her hair.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London 🇬🇧🇯🇲

A post shared by Adele (@adele) on

The carnival first started in 1966 in Notting Hill as a celebration of Caribbean culture and traditions. Coming off of a period of high racial tensions and rioting in the 1950s, the celebration is designed to showcase Black culture’s vibrance and richness in the UK.

Put on by activist Rhaune Laslett, one of the founders of the London Free School, the fest has been a yearly staple ever since. Included in the festivities are a massive street party throughout London, costumes, vendors, and live traditional Caribbean music.

Clearly, Adele was in the spirit. This is where the controversy begins, however.

That fun, fun term… ‘cultural appropriation’

https://twitter.com/Ace_Only_1/status/1300528358028177408

This is where people have started to take aim. Because Adele is not Black, some have said she doesn’t have the right to do her hair like that. Others have said she is in a costume and for Black people, it’s their culture.

Adele was in celebration of these things and was in costume as are countless others in attendance.

The common argument in terms of hair and cultural appropriation is that while whites can wear a traditionally Black hairstyle and be complimented, Blacks get shamed for wearing it the same way.

What may be seen as funky or bold on a white person would be seen as dirty or unkempt on a black person. This notion has been a source of contention for a long time in the Black community.

So what’s the verdict? Does hairstyle truly belong to anyone? Or is it our society that informs how we see these cuts that needs the adjustment?

https://twitter.com/roughspoken/status/1300292872147795968

This is a multi-layered and complex issue that does not have one simple answer.

Wear what you want, but be mindful, friends.

Here’s why the internet is going so damn hard for skinny Adele

We all know Adele, possibly the most critically acclaimed music artist of the last decade. On top of selling out Madison Square Garden with powerhouse vocals, her most recent feat has stunned the world again.


On May 6, Adele took to Instagram, sharing her thanks for birthday wishes and a picture of her in a sleek black dress. Now in the best shape of her career, many have rightfully praised her. Weight loss is no small task, and no doubt took hard work and loads of dedication.

However, some fans aren’t so thrilled about the response. Yesterday while watching the H3 Podcast, hosts Ethan and Hila Klein pointed out a different kind of reaction. They noted that some fans have called out Adele’s congratulators via Twitter to shame them for complimenting her.

https://twitter.com/rosettawright43/status/1257901135190425600?s=20

H3 noted just how baffling this concept really is. These shamers take the stance that Adele was beautiful before she lost weight, and is not now suddenly beautiful because of it.

While that opinion is fair, it’s the shaming of those praising her that just ain’t right.

As Ethan mentioned, who admitted to being currently overweight himself, weight loss is monumental for those who do. When people lose weight, they do so to feel better about themselves, physically or mentally. When it happens, the weight dropper likes to have their progress recognized.

We all like to be seen and validated.

Many on Twitter like to present themselves as being “woke,” putting down others to build themselves up. Woke culture is built on narcissism and blind devotion, so it would make sense that these contrarians needed to be heard.

Their message is counterproductive. The point of congratulating Adele is at its core meant to spread positivity. They likely wouldn’t be doing so if they meant to be cruel. Ironically, these positivity shamers, with their high-horse ideals, are doing more harm than good.

As with any internet community or subculture that makes no sense, the best thing to do is ignore them. People online only really have as much power as you give them. H3 points them out for how ridiculous they are!

Don’t feed the trolls, my friends.