Awra Briguela has issued an apology after getting himself into hot water for cultural appropriation or the adoption of the identity of another culture.

Last Thursday, August 27, Awra posted photos of himself with braided hair on Twitter and captioned it: “I don’t need a weapon. I am one.”

i don’t need a weapon. i am one 🐅 pic.twitter.com/hoTn08uQdG

— Awra Briguela (@AwraBriguelaaa) August 27, 2020

While several people appreciated his look, there were also those who asked him to take down the photos for alleged cultural appropriation — prompting a debate on social media.

One netizen with the username @kentonsoup wrote: “I was rooting for you... but your hair. Don't make that a fashion, it’s disrespectful.”

i was rooting for you... but your hair

don't make that a fashion, its disrespectful

— ˗ˏˋ sophia ˎˊ˗ (@kentonsoup) August 27, 2020

After getting attacked for calling out Awra, @kentonsoup quoted a thread from another netizen explaining the history and impact of hairstyles in Black culture.

“Let’s start with cornrows. if you didn’t know already, cornrows are small, tight braids laid on the scalp. these braids originated in Africa and were used by enslaved African Americans as maps and escape routes from their slave owners,” wrote @justfairytingz in a tweet.

let’s start with cornrows. if you didn’t know already, cornrows are small, tight braids laid on the scalp. these braids originated in africa and were used by enslaved african americans as maps and escape routes from their slave owners. https://t.co/V61o3GHgqJ pic.twitter.com/cLyBUGzasD

— sami⁷ (@justfairytingz) July 14, 2020

Amid the criticisms, several netizens came to Awra’s defense and said that there’s nothing wrong with what he did considering that a lot of Filipinos get their hair braided.

“Naloka ako sa mga comments. When I was in Bora daming nag papabraids don .. and here sa Cebu? nag papa-braids ‘yung friend ko sa isang Nigerian last Sinulog,” another netizen wrote.

naloka ako sa mga comments... when I was in bora daming nag papa braids don.. and here sa Cebu? nag papa braids yung friend ko sa isang Nigerian last sinulog

— James Reid ☤ (@iamprincejan) August 27, 2020

Awra, for his part, acknowledged that what he did was wrong and immediately apologized for what he did to his followers.

He wrote: “Hi guys I just wanted to apologize for my recent post. I wasn't fully aware that cornrow hairstyles has a long history of discrimination. I sincerely apologize for this mistake and I hope we all learn from this. Thanks to everyone who reached out and educated me!”

Hi guys i just wanted to apologize for my recent post. I wasn't fully aware that cornrow hairstyles has a long history of discrimination. I sincerely apologize for this mistake and i hope we all learn from this. Thanks to everyone who reached out and educated me!

— Awra Briguela (@AwraBriguelaaa) August 27, 2020

In another tweet, he added: “I’m not always right and that's okay, I'm still learning, growing, and improving.”

I'm not always right and that's okay, I'm still learning, growing, and improving. ❤️

— Awra Briguela (@AwraBriguelaaa) August 27, 2020

The fight for racial equity among Black people remains one of the most important issues around the world due to their long history of discrimination.

Last May, hundreds of protests were staged across the world following what many referred to as a “racially-charged" event which led to the death of a man named George Floyd.