Shania Twain Criticized Over Chained Hawk in New Photo
Shania Twain is experiencing what some would call a renaissance—the Twainassance, if you will—but it’s not all fun and games for the country icon.
In a new photoshoot for the UK’s The Times’ Sunday Style feature, the “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” singer posed in her signature cheetah print with a hawk on her arm, but the sneak peek she’s shared on Instagram has caused quite the kerfuffle amongst her followers.
“Listen – I’m an icon, we all know that ? BUT the real icon from my shoot with @theststyle is obviously RUBY! ??,” she captioned the photo, which found the superstar sitting in a black teddy with a conical bra, floral tights, and a cheetah print fur coat hanging off of her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail or bun behind her head, her lips were painted a brilliant red, matching her firey nails, and a hawk perched on her upper arm.
Unfortunately, many of her commenters held a similar opinion about the post: “That don’t impress me much.”
Twain managed to elicit a number of complaints from her followers, starting with the coat.
“I hope this is fake fur ?,” several commenters started with, which it most likely is—Twain campaigned for faux fur with Panthera several years ago.
“Great photo but no to posing with a captive wild animal ❤️❌,” said another.
“Icon? A chained bird? It’s a victim,” another wrote.
“So sad to see this animal chained ! It is sad to see someone call themselves an icon. Is anyone humble in this world?” asked one, clearly missing the reference to her recent People’s Choice Icon Award.
“Sad to see Shania use live animals for a photo shoot.This bird is exploited basically chained for pictures for are entertainment.How many shoots has this bird been placed In ?trapped in the entertainment industry and rented like a car being treated as a commodity.Please consider what this life is like from the animals perspective the flash of the camera endlessly.Respect this animals rights to do what they please ,live in there natural environment honor their freedom by leaving such a wild animal alone,if given the chance to choose how their fate is we instead choose for them a dull their wildness through domestication,” explained another.
While it’s not clear where the bird is from, another commenter made note of the likelihood that it can’t be released into the wild for its own safety. “This is probably a bird that can no longer live in the wild. Being involved with the raptor center often times certain birds become ambassadors for their species. If they’re not doing something like this they probably won’t be alive. Ideally all of them need to be wild but in certain circumstances that’s not possible. I don’t think this is a bird that was snatched out of the sky and held for a shoot. They are captive due to injury. Whether in a photo shoot at a studio or at the zoo during a visit with guests. I don’t see much of a difference,” the commenter said.
Another commenter took issue with Twain’s outfit, complaining, “Can we stop with the ‘trying to be 20’ crap. Why can’t women over 50 just age with grace and class? It’s so much more attractive. This constant need to be validated with looking young or hip or sexy is so desperate. We are wise at 50. We no longer need to cow tow to that BS. For the love of god can SOMEONE set that example? Madonna failed at it as did many including yourself. I need a role model for 50 plus that exudes wisdom, confidence, grace and class. That whole package is sexy in itself. No need to wear garbage clothes and pose provocatively. That’s for the young and dumb …. Sigh.”
But Twain has already spoken out about embracing her age and refusing to feel ashamed for the natural process, which sounds like a pretty good role model to us. At least she’s not airbrushing her photos!
But it wasn’t all negative feedback over in the comment section. “Obsessed. And you’re damn right you’re an icon! Don’t you forget it,” another read.
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