Shakira was under fire this week after fans pointed out a necklace on her fan website resembled a Nazi symbol. (REUTERS)
Shakira fans were shaking their heads after spotting what appeared to be a Nazi-like symbol on a necklace for sale on the singer's fan website. The $9.99 gold pendant necklace was meant to promote the star's “El Dorado World Tour," which kicked off in early June.
German news site Bento was among the first media outlets to point out the offensive souvenir, saying it was inscribed with the "Black Sun," a symbol designed by Nazis.
"The symbol conceals three crossed swastikas - or twelve sieves arranged in a circle," the news outlet reported.
Angry fans soon began to post side-by-side shots of the "Black Sun" symbol and the one displayed on Shakira's merchandise.
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"So Shakira most likely accidentally put a nazi symbol on her tour merch and didn’t know it," one Twitter user posted.
"A fascist symbol as a necklace for your world tour? Are you f---ing serious?" another asked.
Live Nation, Shakira's concert producer, took responsibility for the blunder in an apology note posted online Thursday.
"The necklace Live Nation designed for Shakira’s El Dorado World Tour was based on Pre-Columbian imagery," the group tweeted. "However, some fans have expressed concern that the design bears an unintentional resemblance to Neo-Nazi imagery. We sincerely apologize for this inadvertent similarity and have permanently pulled the item from the tour collection."
Shakira fans were furious the singer was being blamed for the mistake and called on the company to "do some research" next time before adding new items to the celebrity's website.
"Sadly everyone blames the artist as if they design the merch. can you guys care a little more about your artist's reputation?" one fan asked.
"They need to fix this. Cause its s--t... and there's no pre-columbian/indigenous (aztec, inca, maya) art with that sun design..." another woman pointed out.
Shakira's "El Dorado World Tour" will wrap up in November after the singer performs in more than 50 shows across several continents.
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