Gwen Stefani is one of the versatile celebrities that Hollywood embraced in the last three decades. The American superstar has left no pebble unturned in this glamorous world whether it is singing, acting, fashion or beauty. Starting her career as a solo pop star in the late 90s the Luxurious singer earned herself a place on VH1’s “100 Greatest Women in Music” in 2012. Unfortunately, this talented musician is currently under fire after she claimed of being Japanese.
The Grammy winner who was born to Dennis Stefani and Patti Flynn in Fullerton, California has no connection to Japanese culture. Since her father was an Italian American while her mother has English, Irish, Scottish, German and Norwegian ancestry. So people on the internet find it quite aggravating how The Aviator star is repeatedly mixing up her ethnicity and nationality. Why the 53-year-old actor is declaring herself as a part of the Harajuku heritage?
Gwen Stefani talks about her connection with Japanese culture
Gwen Stefani recently sat down with Allure to promote her beauty brand, GXVE Beauty. In the interview, the singer was asked about the backlash she faced back in the 2000s when she launched her fragrance collection called “Harajuku Lovers.”
In her response, she stated that her admiration for the Harajuku culture made her feel that she is Japanese. “That was my Japanese influence and that was a culture that was so rich with tradition, yet so futuristic so much attention to art and detail and discipline and it was fascinating to me,” explained the Jagged actor.
ALSO READ: Thank You, Next! Pete Davidson Gets Cozy With A New Woman Merely Days After Dating Emily Ratajkowski
She also revealed that her father’s frequent travels to Japan were the major part that influenced her. However, it looks like no matter how the Rich Girl songstress describes it, Netizens do not agree with her.
The California singer is facing immense backlash on social media
Internet users are recently enraged after Gwen Stefani defended her connection to the Harajuku heritage. People are slamming her that she cannot claim a culture after traveling there a few times or having admiration for it. One user posted calling out Allure Magazine for ruining the experiences of other artists in the world:
“Give me a break @Allure_magazine. You are buying into this manufactured 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 saying "My god, I'm Japanese" is so cringe. @gwenstefani maam. You are not Japanese. You are not Asian like us You are not a minority like us. Being a superfan of Asian culture does not make you one of us STOP
— . (@heysaveas) January 10, 2023
Gwen Stefani is a privilege delusional white woman who saw Japanese culture and other poc culture as some exotic dress up and is to ignorant to understand that poc culture are not for her pasty ass
— Marie (@smoldumblesbo) January 11, 2023
What the absolute fuck is Gwen Stefani smoking?
I've spoken Japanese, studied Japanese history, media, traditions & sports for 25 years, practiced Kendo & Judo for almost 20.
I've lived there for around 5 years.
My wife is Japanese.
Even I'm not insane enough to say this. https://t.co/6eYH2UlYeQ
— Silenced Swordsman 🇳🇿🇺🇦 (@Socchi_Kurokawa) January 11, 2023
gwen stefani this is so embarrassing💀💀 growing up in anaheim does not make you latinx & hearing stories of tokyo doesn’t make you japanese. her team is never gonna let her do another interview again lmaoo pic.twitter.com/uUj6RFPQ9E
— gray🐥 (@peachpups) January 10, 2023
Japanese people have the right to complain about people like Gwen Stefani treating their culture and people like fashionable accessories, without it being an attack on all white people who interact with Japanese culture.
But if the shoe fits, you must wear it. Hit dogs holler.— Peren Liadon (parody) 🖕🖕🖕🖕 (@perenthebamf) January 11, 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 the kind of oblivion I’m trying to channel in this dark cruel world,” commented another.
ALSO READ: Not Only Husband But Kim Kardashian Also Lost Her Fashion Muse Post Her Divorce With Kanye West
Do you agree with the fans? Or do you have something more to chip in? Tell us your views in the comments!