Selena Gomez Bindi: Hindus Demand Apology For MTV Movie Awards Costume

American Hindu leaders are outraged that Selena Gomez wore a bindi symbol on her forehead during her "insensitive" performance at Sunday's MTV Movie Awards.

Gomez, a former Disney star turned pop singer, sported a sparkly bindi on her forehead as part of her costume for her performance of her new single, "Come & Get It."

Special: Should the Supreme Court Legalize Gay Marriage? Vote in Urgent Poll.

Now, Hindu leaders are demanding an apology from Gomez.

"The bindi on the forehead is an ancient tradition in Hinduism and has religious significance," Rajan Zed of the Universal Society of Hinduism told World Entertainment News. "It is also sometimes referred to as the third eye and the flame, and it is an auspicious religious and spiritual symbol . . . It is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effects or as a fashion accessory aiming at mercantile greed. Selena should apologize and then she should get acquainted with the basics of world religions."

Twitter users also bashed Gomez's costume.

"My friend who is a Sikh is raging that Selena wore a bindi 'she has no right, it's like she's mocking us, it isn't her religion, we don't go around wearing crosses. It's not our religion. We would most likely get burned to the ground if we did, why is she so special," one person wrote.

Selena Gomez, take that bindi of your head, cultural appropriation is not cute. And neither is your singing.

— Neesh. (@therealanisha) April 15, 2013

We could go our entire lives without seeing another white girl in a bindi and that would be completely fine. #MTVMovieAwards

— POPDUST (@Popdust) April 15, 2013

Justin Bieber, Gomez's ex-boyfriend, was also slammed over the weekend for an insensitive comment he made. While visiting the Anne Frank House museum in Amsterdam Friday, Bieber wrote that he hoped the teen, who famously hid from the Nazis in a small apartment during World War II, would have been a fan of his.

"Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a Belieber," Bieber wrote in the museum's guest book, referring to his legion of diehard fans.

Editor's Note The IRS’ Worst Nightmare — How to Pay Zero Taxes

Related stories:

Justin Bieber's Mom Says Her Film 'Crescendo' Goes Beyond Abortion

Justin Bieber to Rolling Stone: I'm Against Abortion, Plus . . .