Stop Screaming “Cultural Appropriation!” Over the Coldplay Video

Does Coldplay’s new music video shot in Mumbai really merit a ‘cultural appropriation’ outrage?

The latest thing to have offended Twitterati is Coldplay’s new music video Hymn For The Weekend, featuring vocals by Beyonce. The video, which was shot in Mumbai last year, has got a bunch of social media enthusiasts screaming, “cultural appropriation!”

Yes, the video features every element from a gallery of ‘exotic India’ cliches, but going by that logic, our popular culture (read Bollywood) has been winning the cultural appropriation race by stereotyping the West (and profiting from it) right from Purab Aur Paschim to Namastey London.

Take a look at what the outraged have to say:

Coldplay goes to India, finds hungry and naked people (and Sonam Kapoor). https://t.co/2GVDIFwitK

— Harsh Mall (@harsh_mall) January 29, 2016

Coldplay video has well shot visuals but very apparent lack of imagination. Too much Salaam Bombay, Slumdog & Incredible India holi in it.

— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 30, 2016

We have come a long way from the clichéd white version of exotic India. It's time the world seen us as a global country! #HymnForTheWeekend

— Amena (@Fashionopolis) January 30, 2016

So upset by @coldplay using my culture as a prop for their music video. India isn't just street kids and exotic women. #HymnForTheWeekend

— Atiya Hasan, MD (@AtiyaHasan05) January 29, 2016

i dont even know what to say about this coldplay video except can white rock bands please stop filming holi videos in india, thank you.

— ahmed ali akbar (@radbrowndads) January 29, 2016

That Coldplay video treats India so stereotypically I was surprised Russell Brand didn't have a cameo.

— Dave Besseling (@davebesseling) January 30, 2016

But then we had some voices which put some perspective to the other side of all the outrage:

Why is it Coldplay's responsibility to show the vastness and entirety of Indian culture in one 4-minute music video? https://t.co/synUTnlIaf

— Madhu Menon (@madmanweb) January 30, 2016

coldplay should now take down the video and re-upload it with a sideshow of hate tweets so the world can actually see the real india.

— udaas priest (@UdaasPriest) January 30, 2016

.@anupamae Cultural appropriation!?? It's a music video! Like it? Watch it. Don't like it? Move on! @coldplay

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 30, 2016

Dear Coldplay, please shoot a music video with outraging Indians, and *that* would be the real appropriation of Indian culture.

— Divya Sachar (@culdivsac) January 30, 2016

If that Coldplay video was *really* appropriating Indian culture then it'd just have all of them screaming "I am offended" the entire time

— shrishti (@hotlinecringe) January 30, 2016

Clearly people on Twitter need to get a life rather than just waiting for the next most trivial thing to angst over.