Why Gwen Stefani Is Facing Backlash Over “I'm Japanese” Comment?
WRITTEN BY Arushi Rai
Recently, Gwen Stefani made a statement during a recent interview with Allure “My god, I’m Japanese and didn’t know it.”
The 'Rich Girl' singer made this statement during her promotion of the new beauty brand GXVE.
Currently this popstar is facing a backlash after defending her 'Harajuku era' but this is not the first time.
The singer has faced these backlashes in the past for using Japanese Culture in her music videos and merchandise. People have called her out for cultural appropriation.
She was criticized for using Japanese culture in her 'Love.Angel.Music.Baby' album which was inspired by the colourful Japanese subculture.
In the interview, Stefani said, "That was my Japanese influence and that was a culture that was so rich with tradition, yet so futuristic, (with) so much attention to art and detail and discipline and it was fascinating to me."
She said that its okay for artist to be inspired by other cultures "if we're not allowed then that's dividing people, right?"
Due to the increased racism towards Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, Stefani faced a huge public backlash and her team reached out after the interview to suggest that people have misunderstood the singer's words.