Rihanna’s Latest Photoshoot Has Sparked A Cultural Appropriation Debate…And HOW Is Kim Kardashian Involved?!

Posted on July 10, 2019 - By Bossip Staff

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August Issue @HarpersBazaarCN on stands July 15th! 💅🏿 @kimmiekyees 💄 @priscillaono 💇🏿‍♀️ @yusefhairnyc 📷 @chenman Chief Editors: @shasimona Visual Direction: @mumoodsight #harpersbazaarCHINA

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Jul 9, 2019 at 3:19am PDT

Rihanna is the latest cover girl for Harpers Bazaar China and the cover has caused a bit of controversy. The images depict Rihanna in traditional Chinese garb and while she looks absolutely stunning the imagery has raised the question of if she is participating in a bit of cultural appropriation.

See, Rih Rih is wearing clothes and participating in a tradition that is not her own, which is usually a red flag for people looking for examples of appropriation. Is it fair or foul?

https://twitter.com/georgieecw/status/1148673311343296520

The issues are even deeper because just a couple of weeks ago Kim Kardashian came under fire for trying to name a brand Kimono. The backlash was so intense that Kim had to change the name. Which all begs the question: what’s the difference between Rihanna’s look and Kim’s brand name? Well, for one, Rihanna was styled and photographed by a whole crew of Chinese people. Kim’s ideas came straight from her own culture vulture brain.

But is that still fair? Take a look at the debate raging across the internet.

It’s not cultural appropriation because the entire team behind Harper’s Bazaar China is Chinese and it’s specificated in their Instagram post. THEY, Chinese people, dressed Rihanna like that. pic.twitter.com/AHhZjD89aN

— амаира (@amairargz) July 9, 2019

Rihanna's Harper's Bazaar China photoshoot is not cultural appropriation at all. The whole team behind the photoshoot (stylist, photographers, chief/visual editors) were Chinese.

— #R9 | the Hanbin stan (@ikonavy) July 9, 2019

so nodoby gunna call rihanna out for cultural appropriation… hmm i see

— " (@ibxdragon) July 9, 2019

y'all Rihanna popped up with this on my tl and people are saying it's not cultural appropriation cause it was approved by a team of chinese people as if a couple chinese fashion designers looking for $$ and attention have it in their best interest to care about what's insensitive pic.twitter.com/UPTapShieD

— Joanne 祖賢 (@redjetseven) July 10, 2019

i know we all love her, but why isn't this cultural appropriation? or is it and nobody cares bc it's rihanna? or is it just "fashion"? https://t.co/OxHsn3lvBm

— Iris (@MariahajilE) July 9, 2019

I don’t have a problem with Rihanna being dressed like this, we can argue this as cultural appreciation rather than appropriation. Annoyed that if this was Katy Perry or Kim K, they’d be mass called out and cancelled. Calling out the people who practice “selective cancel culture” https://t.co/acI8ddDUvi

— donal (@donalcervin) July 10, 2019

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Kim k calling her “gear” Kimonos has nothing to do with the Chinese Culture. her name is in the word. This is not to be compared to what Rihanna is doing. Period.

— Pearloftheworl (@Pearloftheworl) July 10, 2019

I see people comparing Rihanna's Harpers Bazaar cover with Kim K.. there's a difference between appropriation and appreciation. Rihanna was dressed/styled by a team of Chinese people, shot for a Chinese magazine for a Chinese audience. Kim used Kimono for her business, FOR PROFIT

— 🗝 (@shuaijerks) July 9, 2019

Kim k calling her “gear” Kimonos has nothing to do with the Chinese Culture. her name is in the word. This is not to be compared to what Rihanna is doing. Period.

— Pearloftheworl (@Pearloftheworl) July 10, 2019

Y’all do understand Rihanna being styled & photographed BY a Chinese team FOR a Chinese magazine is NOT the same as Kim K naming her brand Kimono, right? Please say yes 🤦🏼‍♀️

— Chels (@shebeshellsz) July 10, 2019

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