Coldplay and Beyoncé's new music video for "Hymn for the Weekend" is under scrutiny for appropriating Indian culture.
The video features the band and the singer in Mumbai, with Beyoncé dressed in traditional Indian clothes, which has already sparked heated debate on social media.
When Beyoncé gets in trouble for cultural appropriation...nobody is safe. Beyoncé never gets in trouble for anything!— RAVEN ELYSE (@RavenElyseTV) January 29, 2016
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Though the video aims to portray India in a positive light, the various ways in which it does so are potentially problematic. For example, the video shows Holi (a colorful, religious festival), children dancing in the streets and other imagery that perpetuates a simplistic portrayal of India, many say.
Wanna depict #India, understand its rich & diverse culture first! Going with ago old stereotypes is not done! #HymnForTheWeekend #Coldplay— Amena (@Fashionopolis) January 29, 2016
More overt is Beyoncé's role. The singer is dressed like a Bollywood star, wearing a bindi and henna and other immediate references to India, twirling her hands in mystic circles that have no actual root in Indian dance.
Additionally, there is a Bollywood actress, Sonam Kapoor, in the video, but she hardly gets any screen time.
Many voiced their opinions on Twitter, with some defending the video, and others calling it out for appropriation.
See @Coldplay & @Beyonce team up for the sumptuous, ridiculous "Hymn For The Weekend" video https://t.co/d9kIEifYGW pic.twitter.com/oGhC7WvkRJ— Stereogum (@stereogum) January 29, 2016
all of a sudden y'all forgot what cultural appropriation is when it comes to beyonce lmao— johnny (@scarfacebiebs) January 29, 2016
There is a difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. Hymn For The Weekend = appreciation— jonathan (@chnnelorange) January 29, 2016
when you think the 12 tweet cultural appropriation threads were finally left in 2015 but beyonce comes thru pic.twitter.com/pay5kg3vVP— local miskeen (@tuqueville) January 29, 2016
why are we mad at Beyonce for cultural appropriation when we could be mad that she made us listen to a Coldplay song?— deep killer brown (@vmochama) January 29, 2016
can we talk about cultural appropriation?? or does she get a pass cuz she's "beyonce" https://t.co/S0eK0pvH3a— blxk (@willfinty) January 29, 2016
So upset by @coldplay using my culture as a prop for their music video. India isn't just street kids and exotic women. #HymnForTheWeekend— Atiya Hasan, MD (@AtiyaHasan05) January 29, 2016