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Rihanna attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Anniversary Event in Sydney, Australia, October 3, 2018. /VCG
Two days after Hollywood veteran John Cusack tweeted, "Sikh farmers are amazing," thousands of agitating Indian farmers who have encamped at various borders of Delhi, the country's capital city, for over two months now found an unexpected cheerleader in American pop sensation Rihanna on Tuesday.
"Why aren't we talking about this? #FarmersProtest" asked the "Don't Stop The Music" singer on social media platform Twitter, commenting on a news report about the internet shutdown imposed to hobble the campaign against the Narendra Modi government's three agriculture laws.
Pop star Rihanna tweeted about India's farm protests, February 2, 2021. /@rihanna via Twitter
The one-liner by the Barbadian beauty, the fourth most-followed individual on Twitter with an army of over 100 million followers, garnered over 508,000 likes and more than 200,000 retweets in just 16 hours; and was enough to elicit a wave of international support.
Meena Harris, niece of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, condemned "an assault on democracy," saying, "We ALL should be outraged by India's internet shutdown and paramilitary violence against farmer protesters."
Meena Harris, niece of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, condemned the internet shutdown in Delhi border areas, February 2, 2021. /@meenaharris via Twitter
Indian-Canadian talk show host and comedian Lilly Singh replied, "Yes! Thank you so much @rihanna. This is a humanity issue! #IStandWithFarmers and this narrative is TIRED."
"We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India," tweeted the world's most famous environment activist Greta Thunberg hours later.
Ugandan climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate posted: "Farmers feed the world. Fight for them. Protect them #FarmersProtest".
"Paid actors, huh? Quite the casting director, I hope they're not overlooked during awards season. I stand with farmers #FarmersProtest," quipped Lebanese-American model and adult star Mia Khalifa.
American rapper RUSS tweeted: "What's going on in India is crazy smh sending love to all my fans and people who are being affected by this."
Protesting farmers shout slogans as they clash with police while attempting to move toward New Delhi, January 26, 2021. /AP
From 'Thanks' to 'Thanks, but no thanks!'
While far-famed Punjabi singers like Harbhajan Mann and Jazzy B thanked Rihanna for "raising her influential voice," the lionizing of demonstrating farmers by global celebrities from foreign lands fell foul of Indian authorities and government supporters.
As India's external affairs ministry called celebrities' "temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments" as "inaccurate and irresponsible," popular Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut targeted Rihanna saying: "What is so special about her, well… she can shake her bum cheeks and expose her a** crack right in the camera lens while singing… ya that's all. Nothing else."
Ranaut, who earlier claimed that those protesting were "paid actors" and then disowned the statement, called Thunberg "dumb and a spoilt brat."
Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha tweeted: "My country is proud of our farmers and knows how important they are, I trust it will be addressed soon. We don't need an outsider poking her nose in our internal matters!"
Government cracks down on farm protests
Internet services in Delhi border areas were suspended days after farmers drove tractors and broke police barricades to enter Delhi on January 26, which is observed as the country's Republic Day. The ensuing clashes left one protester dead and scores injured on both sides. The shutdown has been extended until 5 p.m. local time Wednesday.
On Monday, Twitter blocked access to some 250 handles and tweets linked to the farmers' movement.
According to local media reports, authorities have dug up roads, built walls, installed barricades, and cemented roads with nails around protest sites.
A tweet by @amaanbali about authorities cementing roads with nails around farm protest sites.
The new laws allow farmers and buyers to deal directly stepping over the agricultural market produce committees, the Modi government defends it as a "reformist legislation," but farmers are wary of losing their livelihoods to big agriculture companies.
