Selena Gomez praised for dropping bindi in new promo

Selena Gomez has won praise from Hindu leaders for abandoning her controversial use of a religious bindi symbol in her latest music video.

The pop star was widely criticised for her cultural "insensitivity" after sporting the forehead decoration, traditionally worn by women in South Asia for religious purposes, during a performance of her new song Come & Get It at the MTV Movie Awards last month (Apr13).

Officials at the Universal Society of Hinduism (USH) urged the 20-year-old not to repeat the blunder during her upcoming world tour and the star has now been praised for her decision to leave the religious symbol out of her music promo for the track.

In a statement obtained by E! News, USH statesman Rajan Zed thanked Gomez for understanding the sensitive issue and declining to wear a bindi in her music video.