Awkwafina has addressed using a ‘blaccent’ when acting but Twitter hasn’t received it well.
Whilst doing a Shang-Chi press interview for Reuters, the Asian American actress was asked about the accent she put on in her early career.
“Um… You know, I’m open to the conversation,” she responded. “I think it really is something that I think is a little bit multi-faceted and layered, and so… yeah.”
A clip of the 33-year-old’s response has made its way round social media and Tweeters have expressed their disapproval.
“She’s been asked that question for years and she ducked answering,” one Twitter user responded to Reuter’s video. “She doesn’t have an answer because the truth is ugly, she appropriated an offensive, minstrel persona for clout then lied about it instead of just apologizing and doing better.”
“This is the missing key point from when culture, especially black culture is stolen: the ability to utilize the profitable parts while avoiding the stigmatized parts requires privilege that black people simply do not have.” Said another. That is why she’s getting dragged.
“She just stammers and says nothing. Keep in mind she was literally the first person Marvel cast in this movie, even before the hero. They just HAD to have her,” another Twitter user commented.
“She knew because if she didn’t she wouldn’t drop it whenever it benefits her. It would be her normal dialect but it’s clearly not. I noticed from when she started doing interviews,” one person stated.
In related news, Shang-Chi might be banned in China after star Simu Liu insulted his parent’s home country.
.@awkwafina addresses controversy of her using a ‘blaccent’ in films: pic.twitter.com/razgNiTFke
— Reuters Showbiz (@ReutersShowbiz) September 10, 2021
She’s been asked that question for years and she ducked answering. She doesn’t have an answer because the truth is ugly, she appropriated an offensive, minstrel persona for clout then lied about it instead of just apologizing and doing better.
— kristalisbougie (@kristal100) September 18, 2021
100% this
This is the missing key point from when culture, especially black culture is stolen: the ability to utilize the profitable parts while avoiding the stigmatized parts requires privilege that black people simply do not have.
That is why she’s getting dragged.
— 1312 Kill Your Masters Street (@TroelleEmbiid) September 18, 2021
She just stammers and says nothing. Keep in mind she was literally the first person Marvel cast in this movie, even before the hero. They just HAD to have her
— Chairman of the Bored (@GhostFromQuincy) September 17, 2021
