Justin Bieber has been accused of cultural appropriation after a photo of him with dreadlocks was shared on Instagram.
And while most people can agree that his new look probably isn’t his best, his decision to sport dreadlocks has caused quite a stir on social media. Fans argued that the traditionally black hair style is more than just a fashion trend and cannot simply be culturally appropriated.
Many took to Twitter to troll Bieb’s new hairstyle, and obviously, they didn’t disappoint:
Bieber : u know about cultural appropriation ?
Stylist : say no more
pic.twitter.com/xqUwBXMOIl— KING BEN SOLOMON (@KINGS0L0M0N) April 4, 2016
the evolution of Justin Bieber's hair: a horror story pic.twitter.com/wIdQao4vYo
— ️ (@selenarevivals) April 3, 2016
Bieber got dreads. There’s your (unwanted) daily dose of cultural appropriation.
— Sam White (@samwhiteout) April 3, 2016
Justin Bieber has gotten to the point where you don’t even know what he appropriating,
Dreads, braids or straw hay pic.twitter.com/QPsVg1y0Yr— nae (@neyshajasme) April 3, 2016
Justin Bieber hair look like a wild carrot. pic.twitter.com/jjVRIkRTCf
— sabby ? (@sabrinadunn) April 3, 2016
justin bieber with dreads kinda reminds me of a greasy peanut lol pic.twitter.com/JoOvPe7YYO
— @daniellecserre (@Danielle_Serre) April 4, 2016
Sorry Bieber but the only white person to ever pull off dreads is Faye Tozer pic.twitter.com/KUL3MMV5VX
— Ben Bone (@Spiceyben) April 4, 2016
Why Justin Bieber's hair lookin like the Grinch's fingers tho ? pic.twitter.com/L4QPaDnma6
— najah (@najxilonen) April 3, 2016
Okay but Justin Bieber and these gross dirty lookin ratty dreads. pic.twitter.com/5LFtrEBD7L
— BreeSummers (@Breliloquy) April 4, 2016
Referring to the uproar that surrounded Zendaya’s dreadlocks at last year’s Oscars, one Twitter user wrote: “Zendaya gets dreadlocks & she “looks like she smells like weed” Justin Bieber does it & its “trendy” & “different”.
Zendaya gets dreadlocks & she “looks like she smells like weed” Justin Bieber does it & its “trendy” & “different” pic.twitter.com/MOOausDx5V
— brooke (@brookelaf) April 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/KaylinJonesy/status/716800932793593856
Bieber has made his views on similar situations known in the past, defending Kylie Jenner when she was also accused of cultural appropriation for her cornrows.
Instagram/Kylie JennerHe wrote on Instagram: “Guys leave her alone, were all trying to figure it out and she happens to be under a microscope! I’m the first to know this. But saying she’s being racist because she has her hair in braids is ridiculous.”
The topic has been in headlines for a while, with Zendaya, Jenner, and Miley Cyrus all being rebuked for their ‘culturally appropriative’ hairstyles.
Most recently, a video went viral after a white student was called out for having dreads.
