Rihanna has been accused of cultural appropriation and Orientalism over her cosmetics line's latest addition.
The Barbadian singer and songwriter's makeup brand, Fenty Beauty, recently unveiled a new eye-shadow palette titled 'Moroccan Spice', stirring controversy among social media users.
While Fenty Beauty has previously been praised for promoting inclusivity by catering to a wide array of customers and featuring a diverse group of models, many people have expressed disappointment in the 'Moroccan Spice' palette.
Back in 2013, Rihanna held a concert at the Mawazine Festival in Morocco, breaking the event's previous attendance record with a 150,000-person turnout.
This month, she released a Morocco-inspired eye-shadow palette that includes 16 shades with names such as "Shisha Smoke", "Desert baked", and "Nuts n Dates", which some say inaccurately represent Moroccan culture.
The palette's desert-themed promotional video has been accused of depicting Moroccan culture from an Orientalist lens, as it features two models posing next to a camel and Arab fusion music playing in the background.
Social media users have also pointed out the lack of Moroccan models in the palette's promotional campaign.
Here's how social media users reacted to 'Moroccan Spice':
"Orientalist nonsense"
The disappointment is real
People are "mad" about how Fenty Beauty is profiting off Moroccan culture
They insist she should have featured a Moroccan model
"She wants to be Moroccan by force"
This user suggested an alternative name for the palette
It's all about inclusive representation
"What's the point?"
"Shades of cheap Arab tokenism"
"The Moroccan Spice does nothing to acknowledge true Moroccan culture," wrote Iraqi-Welsh journalist Ruqaya Izzidien.
"If Fenty wishes to profit from so-called Moroccan herbs and spices, they could have at the very least done a quick Google search. Better yet, actually visit the country you're planning to represent in a single palette," she added.
Meanwhile, others don't think it's such a big deal
So they came to Rihanna's defense
Not the first time Rihanna causes debate in the Arab world
Rihanna, who is rumored to be dating Saudi billionaire Hassan Jameel, has previously stirred controversy with an "inappropriate" photo-shoot session in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
The singer visited Abu Dhabi's breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in 2013, sporting a conservative outfit including a black hijab. But, when she proceeded to do a sultry photo-shoot, the mosque officials kindly asked her to leave.
"In the event of behavior that violates the moral codes of access to the mosque, or other visit regulations – such as taking inappropriate pictures, posing in ways that are improper in the context of sacred place, talking loudly, or eating – the violators are directed in a polite manner that reflects the civilisational and tolerant attributes of Islam [sic]," the mosque's management said in a statement after the incident.