Selena Gomez Bindi Controversy: Hindu Group Offended by Singer's Forehead Decoration at MTV Movie Awards

Universal Society of Hinduism leader demands apology, with leader saying the bindi "is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effect"

By Natalie Finn Apr 16, 2013 9:34 PMTags
Selena Gomez, MTV Movie Awards, BollywoodKevin Mazur/WireImage

Dare we call it Bindigate?

The traditional forehead decoration that a Bollywood-inspired Selena Gomez wore while performing "Come & Get It" at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday has a Hindu group demanding an apology from the Spring Breakers star.

"The bindi on the forehead is an ancient tradition in Hinduism and has religious significance," Rajan Zed, leader of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said in a statement to WENN. "It is also sometimes referred to as the third eye and the flame, and it is an auspicious religious and spiritual symbol.

"It is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effects or as a fashion accessory aiming at mercantile greed," he added. "Selena should apologize and then she should get acquainted with the basics of world religions."

Plenty of denizens of the Twitterverse weren't too thrilled with the accessory, either.

"wtf selena gomez? really. bollywood community r u pissed because you should be," tweeted @reachguest. But then there were the supporters, like @FearlessWithSel, who wrote, "Selena's not even wearing a traditional bindi, she's just wearing a decorative one. Stop overreacting, she's not doing anything wrong."

Gomez, 20, has not yet tweeted or issued any official response to the controversy, but perhaps the fact that she again wore a bindi to perform "Come & Get It" on Ellen (today's show was taped yesterday) suggests that the positive feedback has outweighed the negative.

"Wow @SelenaGomez... 'Come & Get It' on the #mtvmovieawards was incredible! One of my favorite songs out there right now!" tweeted Britney Spears, while Demi Lovato praised the song itself.

"Umm.. obsessed with Come & Get It - @selenagomez. So happy for you lady. #LiterallyOnRepeat!!!" Gomez's fellow pop star tweeted.

The Times of India, meanwhile, noted the controversy but also proudly detailed the influences in the song and Gomez's MTV performance, from the male voice singing in Punjabi with a tabla in the background to her classical Indian dance moves.

"While some international blogs are calling it 'tribal finery,' we can spot a good bindi when we see it," wrote the Times' Kritika Kapoor.

Meanwhile, Gomez is hardly the first Hollywood celebrity to try Hindu culture on for size. Julia Roberts, Katy Perry, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Miley Cyrus and Jessica Simpson have all been photographed over the years sporting bindis.