'She grew up in black culture, she's from Tottenham': Adele is defended by Naomi Campbell, Alexandra Burke and MP David Lammy after being accused of 'cultural appropriation' for wearing a Jamaican-flag bikini and bantu knots
Adele has been supported by supermodel Naomi Campbell and thousands of fans after being accused of cultural appropriation for donning a Jamaican flag bikini top to mark the cancelled Notting Hill Carnival.
In a picture shared to her Instagram on Sunday night, the songstress, posing in the garden of her $9.5million Beverly Hills home, wore her hair in Bantu knots leading some to slam the choice as 'insensitive'.
While some claimed the singer was profiting off black culture by sporting the style, many others pointed out the star grew up in Tottenham, London and has been surrounded by black culture throughout her life.
Defence: Adele has been supported by supermodel Naomi Campbell and thousands of fans after being accused of cultural appropriation for donning a Jamaican flag bikini topto mark the cancelled Notting Hill Carnival
Joining in the defense Adele were DJ Ace and singer Alexandra Burke, who was a guest on the DJ's Carnival tribute show on BBC Radio 1Xtra on Monday morning.
Ace said: 'I love the picture, I don't care what people say. Big up to Adele breaking the internet. Big up to Adele. we love her. There's some other funny comments.'
Alexandra meanwhile said: 'I see the pic. She looks hot. She's obviously been working on her body, that for me is a big deal. She’s looking good.'
'As a Jamaican girl myself, my girl has grown up in black culture. People forget she’s from Tottenham. She probably eats jerk chicken all the time like all of us'
'All I’m saying is the girl looked good, leave her. Allow her man. If Popcaan is going to endorse it and say yes my girl you’re wearing the flag and you’re wearing it well. Let her live her best life, leave her alone. We love Adele."
Supermodel Naomi Campbell, whose mother was born in Jamaica, commented on Adele's Instagram photo with two love heart emojis and two pictures of the Jamaican flag.
Support: While some claimed the singer was profiting off black culture by sporting the style, many rushed to show their support for the singer, including celebs Naomi Campbell, Zoe Saldana and Jamaican musician Popcaan
Friends: Supermodel Naomi Campbell, whose mother was born in Jamaica, commented on Adele's Instagram photo with two love heart emojis and two pictures of the Jamaican flag
Actress Zoe Saldana also commented, telling the singer 'you look right at home guurrrl!'
While Jamaican musician Popcaan shared a fist emoji and a love heart.
Other fans took to Twitter to point out to Adele's critics that she was surrounded by Jamaican culture while growing up in Tottenham, and has always been a supporter of the Notting Hill Carnival.
The star was born in Tottenham before moving with her mother Penny Adkins to Brighton at the age of nine.
In 1999, at the age of 11 she and her mother moved back to London; first to Brixton, then to the neighbouring district of West Norwood in south London, which is the subject of her first song Hometown Glory.
Fan: Joining in the defense was singer Alexandra Burke, who speaking on BBC Radio 1Xtra on Monday said: People forget she’s from Tottenham. She probably eats jerk chicken all the time'
Background: Other fans took to Twitter to point out to Adele's critics that she was surrounded by Jamaican culture while growing up in Tottenham, London
'Remember Adele grew up in Tottenham, Ldn, surrounded by Jamaican culture,' wrote one tweeter.
'For many kids, reagardless of their family origins, it was ingrained in their language, fashion, food not just music. With Adele we know it's coming from a good place, with love and respect.'
David Lammy, Member of Parliament for Tottenham agreed, tweeting in response to a critical article: 'Poppycock! This humbug totally misses the spirit of Notting Hill Carnival and the tradition of “ dress up” or “ masquerade”.'
'Adele was born and raised in Tottenham she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the Haters.'
'Adele grew up between Brixton, West Norwood and Tottenham, they have some of the highest Black populations in the country. She's not some any posh girl from Sussex,' tweeted Jason Okundaye.
Home borough: David Lammy, Member of Parliament for Tottenham tweeted: 'Adele was born and raised in Tottenham she gets it more than most. Thank you Adele. Forget the Haters'
Another supporter pointed out that Adele was paying tribute to Notting Hill Carnival 'which is a celebration of West Indies heritage in London/UK. Adele grew up in Tottenham, one of the largest Jamaican diasporas in the UK.'
Adele captioned her original post: 'Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London.'
The carnival - an annual celebration of Caribbean culture - moved online for the first time this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Proud: Others rushed to her defence, claiming she 'just wanted to show off her epic weight loss'
Some fans suggested the star was also simply keen to show off her recent weight loss, with Avi Yemeni writing: 'Adele is getting smashed on Insta for “cultural appropriation” after posting this pic an hour ago.
'Apparently, they now own hairstyles. These people are crazy. The poor woman just wanted to show off her epic weight loss. Don’t delete or apologise. We need you to be brave.'
Lydia wrote: 'Black Americans are trying to cancel someone (Adele) for cultural appropriation on Caribbean people's behalf again.'
Lockdown living: Adele appeared to be posing in the back garden of her lavish $9.5million Beverly Hills home, where she has spent the summer
Max West added:' Crazy... I have Jamaican family and I don’t care if anyone wears a bikini like this with the flag or wants to do some hairstyle - it literally doesn’t affect anyone.
'In fact, they don’t realise people in other countries encourage foreigners to buy their goods for tourism purposes.'
Neekie added: 'Every single thing is not necessarily offensive to every person in the group that it may reflect. Being Jamaican, I (ME!) am not pressed by Adele. We love people wanting to be us if you haven’t noticed. It’s a lil diff there (racially).'
Others simply pointed out the striking similarities between Adele and fellow chart-topper Katy Perry, with Piers Morgan tweeting: 'This is truly shocking... when did @Adelebecome @katyperry?'
Some people claimed the Rolling in the Deep singer was profiting off black culture by sporting the style - along with a Jamaican flag-themed yellow, black and green halterneck top
Adele received backlash with many suggesting she was profiting off black culture with her choice of outfit and hairstyle.
Ernest Owens wrote on Twitter: 'If 2020 couldn't get anymore bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked for. This officially marks all of the top white women in pop as problematic. Hate to see it.'
He later added: 'I'm too old and Black to be defending and making excuses for white people who still can't read the damn room in 2020.'
A user who goes by Johnny added: 'Adele dropped that weight and said it’s time for her cultural appropriation era.'
Kenisha wrote: 'If you haven’t quite understood cultural appropriation, look at Adele’s last Instagram post. She should go to jail no parole for this.'
She captioned her snap: 'Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London!'
Before and after: The songstress [pictured L in 2008 and R on Sunday] marked the August Bank Holiday weekend by slipping her newly-honed frame into a busty bikini top and skinny leggings
Wow: Others pointed out the striking similarities between Adele and fellow chart-topper Katy Perry, with Piers Morgan tweeting: 'This is truly shocking... when did @Adelebecome @katyperry?'
Adele is said to have lost the weight due to a 1,000 calorie a day diet and by upping her exercise.
She wowed fans when she showed off her dramatic transformation on her 32nd birthday in May.
She took to social media in August to congratulate her friend Beyonce on the success of latest album, Black Is King.
The Rolling In The Deep songstress posed for a snap below her TV as she watched Beyonce, 38, perform in her new music video.
Pals: She took to social media in August to congratulate her friend Beyonce on the success of latest album, Black Is King
Figure: She wowed fans when she showed off her dramatic transformation on her 32nd birthday in May
Showing her supportive side, the star made sure to match Beyonce's ensemble in the snap by wearing a brown shirt that had a crescent moon-print design.
She revealed her transformation is the result of a self-help book that led her to find 'joy and freedom'.
The pop star wrote in an Instagram post last month that reading Untamed, Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle proved life-changing for her.
She shared a snap of the book's cover and said if her followers wanted to make changes they should buy a copy.
The Someone Like You singer said: 'If you're ready - this book will shake your brain and make your soul scream. I am so ready for myself after reading this book!
'It's as if I just flew into my body for the very first time. Whew!
Book club: She revealed her transformation is the result of a self-help book that led her to find 'joy and freedom'
'Anyone who has any kind of capacity to truly let go and give into yourself with any kind of desire to hold on for dear life - Do it. Read it. Live it. Practice it. We are a lot! But we are meant to be a lot!'
The star continued, saying the book will be one which she keeps on returning to for the rest of her life.
She said: 'Read this book and have a highlighter on hand to make notes because you'll want to refer back to it trust me!
Open: The singer said the book made her realise she was responsible for her own happiness and led her to make changes (pictured in 2016)
'I never knew that I am solely responsible for my own joy, happiness and freedom!! Who knew our own liberation liberates those around us? Cause I didn't!!
'I thought we were meant to be stressed and disheveled, confused and selfless like a Disney character! ProBloodyFound!! You're an absolute don Glennon.'
The book is described by Waterstones as 'part inspiration, part memoir, it explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet the expectations of the world, and instead dare to listen to and trust in the voice deep inside us.'
'She grew up in black culture, she's from Tottenham': Adele is defended by Naomi Campbell, Alexandra Burke and MP David Lammy after being accused of 'cultural appropriation' for wearing a Jamaican-flag bikini and bantu knots
!['She grew up in black culture, she's from Tottenham': Adele is defended by Naomi Campbell, Alexandra Burke and MP David Lammy after being accused of 'cultural appropriation' for wearing a Jamaican-flag bikini and bantu knots]()
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September 01, 2020
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