When Selena Gomez took the stage Sunday night at the MTV Movie Awards to perform her new single “Come & Get It,” the last thing she expected was backlash. Dressed in red and barefoot, Gomez also donned a bindi on her forehead. Not a Hindu herself, it was the bindi that caused controversy.

The bindi is a religious symbol to Hindus, and the fact that Gomez sported one during her seductive performance had many unhappy.

“The bindi on the forehead is an ancient tradition in Hinduism and has religious significance. It is also sometimes referred to as the third eye and the flame, and it is an auspicious religious and spiritual symbol,” Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said. “It is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effects or as a fashion accessory aiming at mercantile greed.”

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