Selena Gomez Bares Ankle in Mosque, Sparks Outrage

Selena Gomez stirred up a controversy in Abu Dhabi by posting an Instagram shot of herself flashing her right ankle during a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque there earlier this week. In addition to the ankle-baring photo, Gomez posted a photo to Instagram of herself and friends including Kendall Jenner and Cody Simpson laughing and smiling—activities that, along with women exposing their ankles, are considered disrespectful in a mosque, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Sample comments from angered viewers: "Just because you're not muslim doesn't mean you don't have to follow muslim tradition in a Muslim place." The ankle photo was deleted yesterday, TMZ reports (it has the image), but Gomez has not commented on the controversy. See the other controversial photo—which also includes an exposed ankle—here. (More Selena Gomez stories.)