'So you know this is racist right?' Gigi Hadid comes under fire on Instagram after her sister Bella posted a candid clip of the model squinting her eyes to imitate the Buddha

  • A video posted by Bella Hadid shows her 21-year-old sister at a restaurant with friends, who are singing Happy Birthday to someone
  • Gigi holds up a cookie that is shaped like the Buddha and squints her eyes in an imitation of his face
  • Twitter users have called the video racist, and pointed out that they are 'not surprised' and this isn't the first time she has faced accusations of racism
  • People have called her out for modeling Afros and dreadlocks in the past 

By Carly Stern For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:25 EST, 6 February 2017 | Updated: 16:40 EST, 6 February 2017

Supermodel Gigi Hadid is facing online backlash after a video surfaced showing her squinting her eyes to imitate an East Asian person.

In a clip posted by Bella Hadid and later deleted — but not before the video had spread and been shared by other accounts — Gigi is seen smiling and making the offensive facial expression while out with friends.

In the hours since it has been shared, other social media users have chimed in to criticize Gigi, with some claiming she has exhibited 'racist' behavior before.

Uh-oh: A video showing Gigi Hadid imitating the narrow eyes of the Buddha (in cookie form) has surfaced on social media)

Uh-oh: A video showing Gigi Hadid imitating the narrow eyes of the Buddha (in cookie form) has surfaced on social media)

Don't do that, girl... In the short clip, Gigi holds the cookie up to her face and then smiles and squints her eyes

Don't do that, girl... In the short clip, Gigi holds the cookie up to her face and then smiles and squints her eyes

Guilty conscience? Bella Hadid, Gigi's sister, shared the video but quickly took it down when people got angry

Guilty conscience? Bella Hadid, Gigi's sister, shared the video but quickly took it down when people got angry

Some pointed out that this wasn't the first time that the model has been embroiled in a scandal about racial insensitivity 

Some pointed out that this wasn't the first time that the model has been embroiled in a scandal about racial insensitivity 

The very short clips features Gigi and friends at a restaurant, where several are singing Happy Birthday.

Gigi holds up a cookie in the shape of the Buddah, then smiles and squints her eyes to imitate his face. 

'This is y'all woke palestine queen? Gigi out here mocking Asian people. i would say she's cancelled but she never started [sic],' wrote one poster.

Other people shared similar comments, with one saying: 'smh she's been cancelled. She's made fun of Asian people, and done so many racist things but nobody pays attention.' 

In agreement: In one poll on Facebook, over 50,000 fans called the squinting 'racist AF'

In agreement: In one poll on Facebook, over 50,000 fans called the squinting 'racist AF'

Not such a great point: Several pointed out that Gigi is dating an Asian man (Zayn Malik), though Gigi is also half Middle Eastern

Not such a great point: Several pointed out that Gigi is dating an Asian man (Zayn Malik), though Gigi is also half Middle Eastern

Many have expressed anger and exasperation at her actions

Many have expressed anger and exasperation at her actions

Responding: Fans and non-fans alike have been unhappy with the clip

Responding: Fans and non-fans alike have been unhappy with the clip

'Why am i not shocked about gigi hadid being racist again,' wrote another, while yet another said: 'ppl are so blind to anti asian racism as someone thats had to deal w ppl making fun of my eyes for 16 yrs i hope gigi hadid falls in a hole [sic].'

Several pointed out that Gigi's boyfriend, Zayn Malik, is of Asian descent, his father being British Pakistani. However, Gigi's father — Palestinian-American developed Mohammad Hadid — is also Middle Eastern. 

However, as some have said, it doesn't matter if the intention to be racist isn't there — the ignorance that something is racist can alone be part of a racist act.

The claims of past 'racist' behavior seem to be referring to the time Gigi was accused of cultural appropriation while modeling. 

Going back: Fans were similarly upset with this cover of Vogue Italia, in which Gigi sported an Afro

Going back: Fans were similarly upset with this cover of Vogue Italia, in which Gigi sported an Afro

There were also cries of cultural appropriation when she wore dreadlocks during a Marc Jacobs runway show last year, though all the models wore them

There were also cries of cultural appropriation when she wore dreadlocks during a Marc Jacobs runway show last year, though all the models wore them

In 2015, she braced herself for backlash when she shared this picture of henna tattoos

In 2015, she braced herself for backlash when she shared this picture of henna tattoos

She pointed out that she was appropriating a culture because it is actually her culture — she is half Palestinian

She pointed out that she was appropriating a culture because it is actually her culture — she is half Palestinian

In 2016, she wore colorful dreadlocks to walk in Marc Jacobs' runway show — a choice that was not hers, but the designers. She also once modeled a blue Afro on the cover of Vogue Italia.

In 2015, Instagram followers were also quick to attack her for showing off henna tattoos on her hands, to which she had a speedy response: 

'Before you go all "cultural appropriation" in my comments, check out the last name. Hadid. Half Palestinian & proud of it,' she wrote.

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