Gwen Stefani is one of the most versatile celebrities Hollywood has embraced over the past three decades. The American superstar has not left a single stone unturned in this glamorous world, be it singing, acting, fashion or beauty. Having started her career as a solo pop star in the late 90s, the gorgeous singer earned herself a spot on VH1’s “100 Greatest Women in Music” list in 2012. Unfortunately, this talented singer is currently being criticized after stating that she is Japanese.
The Grammy winner, born to Dennis Stefani and Patti Flynn in Fullerton, California, has nothing to do with Japanese culture. Because her father was an American of Italian descent, and her mother has English, Irish, Scottish, German and Norwegian roots. Therefore, people on the Internet are annoyed by the way the star of “Aviator” constantly mixes his ethnicity and nationality. Why is the 53-year-old actress declaring herself part of Harajuku’s legacy?
Gwen Stefani talks about her connection with Japanese culture
Recently, Gwen Stefani spoke with Allure to promote her cosmetics brand GXVE Beauty. In an interview, the singer was asked about the negative reaction she faced in the 2000s when she released her fragrance collection called “Harajuku Lovers”.
In her response, she stated that her admiration for Harajuku culture made her feel Japanese. “It was my Japanese influence, and it was a culture so rich in traditions, but so futuristic, with such attention to art, detail and discipline, and it was fascinating to me,” explained the Jagged actor.
She also revealed that her father’s frequent trips to Japan were the main part that influenced her. However, it seems that no matter how the Rich Girl singer describes it, netizens disagree with her.
The Californian singer has faced a huge backlash on social media.
Internet users have recently become enraged after Gwen Stefani defended her connection to the Harajuku legacy. People scold her for not being able to claim culture after a few trips or admiring her. One user wrote that he accused Allure magazine of spoiling the experience of other artists in the world:
“Give me a break @Allure_magazine. You are buying into this fabricated outrage.”
while i can and will absolutely make fun of gwen stefani’s statement on being japanese now, i also cannot deny the hold that love angel music baby as an album had on me between middle and high school
— the morally corrupt juan barquin (@woahitsjuanito) January 10, 2023
Gwen Stefani can’t say she’s Japanese cause that’s cultural appropriation but she can say that she’s a man and no one would mind.
— Cassie ♐️ (@boughtabadbih) January 11, 2023
imagine you're gwen stefani's pr team and you've done the years of work to bury her fetishism and cultural appropriation from the public's consciousness and in 2023 she brings it back to the forefront, DOUBLES DOWN, and goes around calling herself japanese. I would just quit lmao pic.twitter.com/ViQ6b6krsH
— Kay Taylor Rea (@kaytaylorrea) January 10, 2023
“Gwen Stefani telling an Asian American interviewer that she identifies as Japanese is a kind of oblivion that I’m trying to channel into this dark, violent world,” another commented.
Do you agree with the fans? Or do you have something else to chip in? Tell us your opinion in the comments!
