'Cultural appropriation isn't nice, regardless of context': Harry Styles sparks a race row among One Direction FANS as he poses in Native American headpiece

By Louise Saunders

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Harry Styles has sparked a Twitter racism row among One Direction fans after posing in a Native American headpiece for an Instagram shot.

The 20-year-old pop heartthrob threw on in a feathered war bonnet, traditionally worn in battle and for ceremonial occasions, in an artistic black and white snap, which was promptly uploading to the social networking site.

But the image quickly divided his loyal army on micro-blogging site Twitter, in particular receiving criticism from fan account @1Dneews, which boasts an impressive 732,000 followers.

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Controversial: Harry Styles has sparked a Twitter racism row among One Direction fans after posing in a Native American headpiece for an Instagram shot

Controversial: Harry Styles has sparked a Twitter racism row among One Direction fans after posing in a Native American headpiece for an Instagram shot

The page, run by four One Direction fans, said in a series of posts after seeing the shot: 'Cultural appropriation is not nice, regardless of context or intent. let's leave it at that.

'I don't think harry is a bad person. i think there's underlying inequality all around the world in current times. i know that i even perpetuate it myself.

'That's why it's even more important to recognize our mistakes and to act on them.' (sic)

Criticism: But the image quickly divided his loyal army on the micro-blogging site, in particular receiving criticism from fan account @1Dneews, which boasts an impressive 732,000 followers

Criticism: But the image quickly divided his loyal army on the micro-blogging site, in particular receiving criticism from fan account @1Dneews, which boasts an impressive 732,000 followers

But numerous other fans were quick to jump to the defence of the star, explaining that Harry was merely trying the headpiece on and suggesting the page was making a 'big deal out of nothing'.

One wrote: 'Maybe he just liked the way it looked on his head................

'But if anything it's making a deal out of nothing, I know you mean well but there really is nothing meant by it, we all know that.'

Boyband heartthrob: Harry was last pictured out and about in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday

Boyband heartthrob: Harry was last pictured out and about in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday

  

To which the One Direction fan page responded: 'I don't think he was trying to be hurtful or offensive.

'I'm just trying to point out the bigger issue, because people are trying to downplay it to protect him. i love harry and i'm sure he's not 'racist' but we shouldn't turn a blind eye.'

One user that helps to run the page even turned against whoever had written the original post, writing: 'Oh so these days you can't wear different things from other peoples cultures without getting called racist? Cool. Idiots.'

Racism row: Numerous other fans were quick to jump to the defence of the star, explaining that Harry was merely trying the headpiece on and suggesting the page was making a 'big deal out of nothing'

Racism row: Numerous other fans were quick to jump to the defence of the star, explaining that Harry was merely trying the headpiece on and suggesting the page was making a 'big deal out of nothing'

But refusing to back down, @1Dneews wrote: 'i don't think you should be able to for the sake of fashion. not that that's necessarily what harry's doing, but in terms of the bigger picture.

'I love you kristy, i'm not trying to start a fight. but being a minority, it's just something that's important to me.'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for One Direction and Harry Styles for a comment.

Fantastic five: Harry with his One Direction bandmates at last month's BRIT Awards (L-R) Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik

Fantastic five: Harry with his One Direction bandmates at last month's BRIT Awards (L-R) Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik

Harry StylesOne Direction

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