Jordyn Wood Apologizes After Facing Backlash for Wearing an Abaya While Visiting a Mosque

Jordyn Woods says she meant no disrespect towards the Muslim community by wearing a traditional garment while on vacation in the Middle East. The 22-year-old reality star's time in the United Arab Emirates is well documented on her Instagram, but a recent visit to Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Mosque has led to criticism from her followers.

For those who don't know, it is traditional in many religions to cover one's head and wear modest clothing when entering a religious space. For example, when I traveled to Venice two years ago, I could not enter the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark because I had nothing to cover my shoulders. Forgoing this tradition can come off very insulting to the culture you are in. And it seems Jordyn sparked a debate on how she chose to dress at the mosque.

Her Instagram posts show her wearing a long black dress and an abaya. An abaya is a cloak-like piece of clothing typically worn over a woman's clothes to protect modesty. In response to one commenter's claim that Jordyn and her family "mocked" the religion of Islam, she wrote, "I'm sorry if I offended you but in order to enter the mosque you have to wear an abaya... In no world would I try to mock another person nor culture." While some fans commented that they thought she looked pretty, others criticized Jordyn for still showing her hair through the abaya. 

The entrepreneur is no stranger to online criticism. Jordyn (respectfully) then clapped back at the comments, saying, "I just got properly educated. Thanks sis." Despite the controversy, it seems Jordyn still had fun on her trip, saying it "was such an amazing experience getting to see the beauty of another culture."