A necklace Shakira was selling to fans during her El Dorado tour turned out to be less of a “Whenever, Wherever” accessory and more of a “Never, ever” one.
After a fan posted about it on Twitter, the German outlet Bento reported that the tour merchandise looked like a Black Sun pattern used by Nazis and adopted by neo-Nazis. There is a long history of the symbol, which was featured at the Wewelsburg Castle in Germany during the Nazi era, and the design conceals three crossed swastikas. It is illegal to print or display this symbol in Germany today.
So Shakira most likely accidentally put a nazi symbol on her tour merch and didn’t know it lmao pic.twitter.com/HRjP41owbO
— Bill Rickards (@Billfromwawa) June 19, 2018
Shakira herself hasn’t spoken out about the necklace — which also has her name on it as well as the name of the tour. Live Nation, however, has mentioned it. While the party line is that it was “based on Pre-Columbian imagery,” the fan outcry made the concert promoter see the “unintentional resemblance to Neo-Nazi imagery,” so it has “pulled the item,” which retailed for $9.95, “from the tour collection.”
The necklace Live Nation designed for Shakira’s “El Dorado World Tour” was based on Pre-Columbian imagery. However… 1/
— Live Nation (@LiveNation) June 21, 2018
some fans have expressed concern that the design bears an unintentional resemblance to Neo-Nazi imagery. We sincerely apologize for this inadvertent similarity and have permanently pulled the item from the tour collection. 2/
— Live Nation (@LiveNation) June 21, 2018
Needless to say, the internet is abuzz over the drama.
Whenever, whatever.
Do you even research the symbols you use for your World Tour merch? @shakiraYou are welcome: https://t.co/xglXli53PO pic.twitter.com/zhl7WgD6Nu
— LeWooloo 🇪🇺 (@Wooloo_Mooloo) June 20, 2018
@JoeAndAlexShow if you look at the centers of each necklace they of course don't look the same with the swastika but if you look at the overall necklace for shakira you can see swastikas all over it.
— JK17 (@thecuntz) June 22, 2018
It HAS to do with Nazis, cause it goes along with the myth and stuff of the Third Reich. And the design is still popular among German Neo-Nazis as a replacement for the outlawed singular swastika symbol. If @shakira appropriates this symbol for her necklaces, she should know this
— MaMika* (@Mamika_do) June 22, 2018
Plenty of fans have Shak’s back, pointing out that she’s probably not designing the merchandise herself. Others have linked it to other cultures.
I swear, stupidity knows no bounds. People losing their minds over @shakira's tour necklace need a major reality check. It's not a nazi symbol. It looks more Aztec than anything else.
These ridiculous Nazi comparisons need to stop.
— Kurama the Fox (@KuramaSoCalFox) June 21, 2018
Just saw news about Shakira's gaff regarding her posting a necklace for sale with a symbol used by Nazis. I've seen that symbol from pre-Columbian artifacts from Hopi to Chibcha of Colombia (where Shakira is from) – representing spiritual growth.
— Elias Duran (@EliasDu09939772) June 21, 2018
@marisa_laudadio why do you write this garbage? Shakira's necklace looks more Mayan than Nazi. Are you just looking for a paycheck or hurt Shakira's reputation as a UNESCO spokesperson? She built a school for children. What have you done Laudadio beside write basura?
— BDS America (@ZionistParasite) June 21, 2018
Shakira kicked off her world tour in Germany on June 3, and she’ll be at it until November. The U.S. leg starts in August.
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