Mia Khalifa’s face sparks anger after snap used on holy poster as cops intervene
A poster of Mia Khalifa sparked outrage at a Hindu festival as organisers are accused of ‘poor taste’ for using her face to promote it.
An image of the Lebanese-American former adult star turned model and social media influencer, real name Sarah Joe Chamoun, triggered religious devotees on social media as it was used to advertise the celebration.
Priests and religious figures protested the posters displayed for the Aadi festival in Tamil Nadu as they showed a clear likeness to Mia Khalifa, likely an AI-generated or photoshopped image of her. They caused such fury they had to be removed by local police officers.
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(Image: @ians_india/X)
Also known as the Adi Monsoon, the festival is organised to pay tribute to the life force of water and honours the Hindu goddess Parvati. Mashable India reports that the decision to use Khalifa’s face was in ‘poor taste’.
The poster went viral on social media showing the 31-year-old, who moved to America from Beirut in 2001, in traditional Indian clothing and carrying a milk pot. Magral Police Station removed the posters after a string of complaints.
Reacting to the posters, one person said: “How can someone make fun of one’s own religion like this? No matter which religion one belongs to, whoever had done this, it is wrong and the sentiments of religious people must have been hurt by this.”
Others disagreed, “It’s not big deal there… I was there when they posted it… so random youths posted it… Mia Khalifa lifting Paal Kadam (milk pot) for Amman…. who would have thought… people here are more religious these banners are just for fun… just normal day in Tamil Nadu nobody will be offended….”
(Image: @ians_india/X)
Mia Khalifa, who still uses her ‘stage name’ on her social media pages, rose to fame as one of the most Googled adult stars on the internet in 2014, despite a short career in the adult entertainment industry.
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