“To mock, belittle, or be unkind in any way possible at the expense of others is: Simply. Not. My. Nature.” Awkwafina addressed criticisms that she uses a “blaccent” and announced that she would be leaving Twitter. Karwai Tang / WireImage / Getty Images Criticisms of cultural appropriation have surrounded Awkwafina, who first gained popularity with her viral rap videos back in 2012, for years now — with some pointing to her earlier roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8 as key examples. The backlash further increased after a viral interview of hers resurfaced last year, where she said, “I refuse to do accents. I’m not OK with someone writing the Asian experience for an Asian character.” Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for Disney As Vice put it, “As she borrowed from Black culture in order to make a name for herself, the woman born Nora Lum performed a series of racial stereotypes for coolness and clout, and through that posturing, she made her way from viral internet rapper to critically acclaimed actress.” Last month, criticisms picked up once again as Awkwafina was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her voiceover work in Raya and the Last Dragon. Axelle…
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Awkwafina Leaving Twitter After Blaccent Statement – BuzzFeed
