JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama caused a stir after being seen posing for a "selfie" with two other world leaders during Nelson Mandela's memorial service.
In a photo that immediately went viral online, Obama is seen sitting in a soccer stadium in South Africa Tuesday with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt holding a cellphone and posing for a photo with the two. First lady Michelle Obama is seated to the president's left and not taking part in the photo, CNN reported Wednesday.
The atmosphere in the stadium when the snapshot was taken was jubilant and festive, with many South Africans dancing and singing in honor of their beloved former president, who died Thursday.
But some conservatives pounced on the photo, saying it was tasteless for the president to be taking selfie photos during a memorial service for a revered world leader such as Mandela.
"Did the president really take a selfie at a funeral? It appears the first lady did not approve," conservative Republican strategist Erick Erickson tweeted early Tuesday.
Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh also criticized the president for the move.
