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Awkwafina Addresses 'Blaccent' Criticism And Quits Twitter

Home> News

Published 11:36 6 Feb 2022 GMT

Awkwafina Addresses 'Blaccent' Criticism And Quits Twitter

She has released a lengthy statement, but a lot of people aren't impressed by it

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

Awkwafina has addressed longstanding criticism of her use of 'blaccent' - but a lot of people aren't impressed by what she had to say.

The actor - real name Nora Lum - has come under fire on numerous occasions for appropriating and profiting from black vernacular, and in a lengthy statement she discussed her use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE).

After some preamble about 'sociopolitical context', the 33-year-old - who won a Golden Globe for her performance in The Farewell - said: "As a non-Black POC [person of colour], I stand by the fact that I will always listen and work tirelessly to understand the history and context of AAVE, what is deemed appropriate or backwards toward the progress of ANY and EVERY marginalized group.

"But I must emphasize: To mock, belittle, or to be unkind in any way possible at the expense of others is: Simply. Not. My. Nature. It never has, and it never was."

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She went on to elaborate on how her own identity was forged and said she is 'still learning'.

The Ocean's 8 actor continued: "My immigrant background allowed me to carve an American identity off the movies and TV shows I watched, the children I went to public school with, and my undying love and respect for hip hop.

"I think as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them – what is correct and where they don’t belong.

"And though I'm still learning and doing that personal work, I know for sure that I want to spend the rest of my career doing nothing but uplifting our communities. We do this first by failing, learning, acknowledging, hearing and empathizing… And I will continue, tirelessly, to do just that."

Shortly afterwards, she announced she was 'retiring from the ingrown toenail that is Twitter' on the advise of her therapist.

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She also thanked her fans for their continuing love and support, but many people were not supportive of her statement.

On social media, many argued her response was overdue and a 'non-apology':

Explaining why the use of blaccent can be harmful and offensive, Cheryl Bedford, the founder of Women of Color Unite - an organization fighting for fair access and treatment for women of colour in Hollywood - told BuzzFeed News: "Putting on any marginalized person's identity in comedy equates a person's voice and culture to not being taken seriously.

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"It's making fun of, and it upholds white supremacy by turning the voices of a community into a joke."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Celebrity, Twitter

Jake Massey
Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

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@jakesmassey

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