Bella Hadid posted an official apology on her Twitter after coming under fire for a photo many perceived as a racist slight.

The photo itself was posted on her Instagram stories, and showed her shoe facing a Saudi Arabian and United Arab Emirates aircraft.

While a picture of a shoe in itself normally wouldn't be accused of racist connotations, in many Arab cultures showing the sole of a shoe is considered an insult, and shoes themselves are considered symbols of dirtiness.

So, given that cultural context, some people on Twitter took that photo of her shoe pointed at UAE and Saudi Arabian aircraft as an intentional statement, and the hashtag #BellaHadidIsRacist was born.

#BellaHadidIsRacist
If you care about your customer in Middle East, Stop working with Bella Hadid immediately !!!!! 🇸🇦🇦🇪 @Dior @Versace @CalvinKlein pic.twitter.com/19qh5LsAwA
— * (@notyetofficial_) June 18, 2019

#bellahadid_racist
So Racist #boycottDior #bellahadid_racist
👎👎 pic.twitter.com/lh0CM5Kfwp
— Tala (@Tala21765437) June 17, 2019

In Saudi Arabia we do not start enmity with anyone but those who misbehave or make mistakes in the right of the Kingdom or the UAE , and they have to take responsibility of their folly
،،#BellaHadidIsRacist
— مفرح الشقيقي (@Mofareh5) June 19, 2019

#BellaHadidIsRacist
Bella Hadid you’ve caused a fatal error🇸🇦🇸🇦💚💚 pic.twitter.com/QErgXN29gx
— sαяα ⁹⁴ (@f5v55) June 18, 2019

#BellaHadidIsRacist
I never liked you and now I have a reason not to 😒😒 pic.twitter.com/hcQy13uSow
— 𝚂𝙷𝚄𝙼𝙾𝙺♥ (@8ooiS) June 17, 2019

#BellaHadidIsRacist I’m a huge customer of you @Dior & @Versace but after what Bella did, I’m not going to buy anything from you, until you stop working with her.
You should choose a model who is Polite and not racist.@bellahadid #بيلا_حديد pic.twitter.com/GnnDRuc7Ie
— Abrar (@Ascnkr) June 17, 2019

#BellaHadidIsRacist oh sorry I didn’t see her 🤷🏻‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/ewwngs15Qq
— ِ (@itsnouragb) June 17, 2019

While the hashtag was raging, plenty of people defended Hadid, claiming the assumption of disrespect and racism was a deep reach.

khaleejis got a lot of nerve w this trend bruh #BellaHadidIsRacist 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 mfs rly gonna act like they aren’t the most racist/spiteful ppl on earth? nah yall gotta stop 🧢ping
— w (@wiamic) June 18, 2019

Thanks. I apologize on behalf of saudis people. They are so empty
so they found something to keep them busy 😂
— بذخ . (@iMahmoud3) June 18, 2019

You people are so extra omg
— visha (@vishachopdaa) June 18, 2019

why is everyone calling bella hadid racist? because of a fucking shoe?
— lori (@emmyliaclarke) June 18, 2019

Upon receiving the backlash, Hadid took to her Twitter to apologize and assure her followers the photo was not meant as a slight towards UAE or Saudi Arabia.

this was an honest mistake on an early morning... never, ever would I intentionally try to offend anyone like that. I am so sorry ..❤️
— Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) June 17, 2019

She then posted a full statement expressing her love for the Middle East and how sad she felt at the notion of hurting anyone.

❤️ pic.twitter.com/zBA2RA1ESt
— Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) June 17, 2019

People were mixed on accepting her apology, some followers felt she shouldn't have apologized in the first place, while others didn't believe it was sincere.

That’s a lesson not to taunt the Saudis and Emirates again 🇦🇪🇸🇦. Good luck in your career.
— 🌐Loay Alshareef لؤي الشريف (@lalshareef) June 17, 2019

pic.twitter.com/z2WyOAH059
— 💚 (@_dhahab_) June 18, 2019

DON’T APOLOGIZE babe their minds are twisted 🙄😤
— k (@gomezsheo) June 17, 2019

Well i didnt see anything that disrespected us on the photo.. Grow up my people plz
— Oraib🌺 (@lllooooooool) June 17, 2019

i am so sorry you had to apologize for this and i am so sorry for all the hate you got for a simple pic of a shoe. i wish i could protect you from all the hate in the world and make you smile just like you make ME smile❤️
— tess ♡ (@DirtyPeachBels) June 17, 2019

At the end of the day, all Hadid could do was apologize for the misunderstanding and move along. Being famous on the internet truly seems exhausting.

Bella Hadid responded to accusations of racism over controversial photo.