The singer angers the religious groups after performing her new hit song, 'Come and Get It', at the award-giving show with a bindi on her forehead.
- May 21, 2013
AceShowbiz -
Selena Gomez sparked controversy after sporting a bindi when performing "Come and Get It" in a Bollywood-inspired look at 2013 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 20. E! Online reported that the leaders of Hindu groups considered Gomez trivialized Hinduism with the sparkling gem on her forehead.
This isn't the first time Gomez gets slammed for wearing a bindi. Back in April, President of Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed called the 20-year-old singer culturally insensitive after wearing a bindi at 2013 MTV Movie Awards.
"The bindi on the forehead is an ancient tradition in Hinduism and has religious significance," Zed said in a statement. "It is an auspicious religious and spiritual symbol."
"[The bindi] is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effects or as a fashion accessory aiming at mercantile greed. Selena should apologize and then she should get acquainted with the basics of world religions," added Zed.
Gomez then denied that she wore the bindi as an accessory. In an April interview, she explained, "I think ['Come and Get It'] has that Hindu, tribal feel and I wanted to translate that. I've been learning about my chakra and bindis and the culture ... It's beautiful."
