The singer Adele has been accused of cultural appropriation after sharing a photo of herself on Instagram with her hair in Bantu knots — a traditional African hairstyle.

The photo, in which she is seen wearing a Jamaican bikini top, was posted as a tribute to London’s Notting Hill Carnival, which normally takes place this weekend, but was moved online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A post shared by Adele (@adele)

A comment on Adele’s Instagram post read: “Bantu knots are NOT to be worn by white people in any context, period.”

One Twitter user wrote: “If 2020 couldn’t get any more 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.”

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. pic.twitter.com/N9CqPqh7GX

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) August 30, 2020

However, the singer received many messages of support as well.

One wrote: “Give the girl a break. It’s Notting Hill Carnival Bank Holiday Monday and she looks great!”

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HELLO! Give the girl a break. It's Notting Hill Carnival Bank Holiday Monday and she looks great! (and she's social distancing) 😜 #Adele #NottingHillCarnival2020 pic.twitter.com/ijxBR4i68S

— Juliet Coley BCAe (@iamjulietcoley) August 31, 2020

Others claimed she wasn’t “appropriating” Black culture, but “appreciating” it.

https://twitter.com/miixhaela1/status/1300477943542677514

London politician David Lammy, noting that Adele is from Tottenham, North London, herself, wrote on Twitter: “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.”

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. https://t.co/sabpPPRtID

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 31, 2020

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