‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Actress, Awkwafina Gives Awkward Response to Question About Her ‘Blaccent’ Controversy
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 21, 2021

‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Actress, Awkwafina Gives Awkward Response to Question About Her ‘Blaccent’ Controversy

A controversy over an Asian actress using a blaccent (Black accent) has caused an uproar online.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actress, Awkwafina, has responded to the accusation of using a blaccent. Based on some performances, most notably her roles as  Goh Peik Lin in Crazy Rich Asians and Constance in Ocean’s 8, she has been accused of taking the liberty to “sound” Black.

The “blaccent” controversy is not new for the comedian and actress. A resurfaced 2017 Vice interview has led critics to call her comments on cultural appropriation hypocritical: In that interview, she said: “I refuse to do [Asian] accents. I’m not OK with someone writing the Asian experience for an Asian character.”

She responded to the accusations of cultural appropriation when asked in a video clip from Reuters Showbiz.

“Um… You know, I’m open to the conversation. I think it really is something that I think is a little bit multi-faceted and layered, and so… yeah.”

She did receive comments on Twitter after it was published.

 


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