Pop princess Rihanna’s poses for a photoshoot at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque have sparked an outcry on social media, with users blasting her as “disrespectful”.
Photos posted on her Instagram account at the weekend show the 25-year-old posing on white marble wearing a head-to-toe hooded black jumpsuit.
She is known for her raunchy outfits so the photoshoot was deemed conservative for the Bajan singer, although she made sure she had bright red lipstick and large gold accessories.
However, 7DAYS columnist and culture expert Nasif Kayed from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Understanding said: “In all of the pics she is dressed from head to toe.
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“What is offensive about them? I’m sure that she was given the permission to be photographed in the manner in which she was. While each and all has their own opinion, in my opinion nothing in the photos is offensive.”
However, cultural expert Ali Al Saloom, the founder of AskAli.com, added: “I feel disappointed that she shared photos on Instagram that are inappropriate to the values of our religion and our Arab tradition, which values modesty and respect to the most important venue that has our father of the nation HH Sheikh Zayed’s graveyard. A mosque is not to be seen as a fun place, nor is it a place for filming fashion.”
Aside from the controversy, the singing superstar shone bright during her one-and-a-half hour capital concert. In sweltering conditions of more than 30C, sizzling Rihanna admitted to the adoring Abu Dhabi audience not long into her set: “It’s really hot – but that’s when I love to party most.”