Rihanna feels the burn: singer criticised for 'orientalism' over make-up

Fenty Beauty has shades that complement many skin tones, but the fact that the Moroccan Spice palette failed to actually use a model from Morocco has caused a stir

Rihanna's Fenty Beauty has helped to redefine inclusivity in the make-up world. Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty

The advertising campaign around a new eyeshadow palette, Moroccan Spice, released by Rihanna's brand Fenty Beauty, has drawn criticism on the internet for not featuring any Moroccan models, and has been labelled by some as orientalist.

The shades, with names such as Souq it 2 Me, Nuts n Dates, and Shisha Smoke, are glittery earthy tones.

The 30-second advert features six models in a desert setting, with "Arabian" music playing in the background. In one of the shots, two of the models lead a camel through the arid landscape. Although Fenty Beauty has been praised for providing a wide variety of shades that complement many different skin tones, the fact that the palette claimed to be inspired by Morocco, but failed to actually use a model from the country has caused a stir.

Here are some of the reactions to the advertisement from social media users:

@fentybeauty @rihanna
As someone who is half Amazigh Moroccan, I wish if you're going to have a palette inspired by or do the shoot in Morocco, you could have at least casted at least one person who was of Moroccan/Amazigh descent. #disappointed #MoroccanSpicePalette pic.twitter.com/MRxRa02vNW

— IZÉMRASEN (ⵉⵣⴻⵎⵔⴰⵙⴻⵏ) (@izeneko_) July 13, 2018

"Moroccan Spice" with no Moroccan models to represent it lol if Rihanna was white her brand would be tarnished from the backlash she'd receive for this orientalist nonsense. https://t.co/Celbowjs3C

— Sir Belknandez Da Menace (@notorious_niz) July 13, 2018

The palette is available from Sephora for Dh260.

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