The reaction has been swift.
A performance by Nikki Minaj on Saturday Night Live generated another heated controversy over cultural appropriation.
Minaj performed her new single Chun-Li which was inspired by the long-running character from the video game series, Street Fighter.
Are you kidding me right now? Nikki Minaj on @nbcsnl. Gong, chopsticks, rice hats, skanky asian outfits. I don’t care what the song is called. This is in poor taste. Cultural appropriation isn’t right for any culture
— Tia (@TiaLeung) May 20, 2018
Nikki Minaj’s first #SNL song’s costumes and choreography in the #SNLFinale seems kinda…. Racist to me…
— Nate Chan (@Nachanael) May 20, 2018
What in the fuck was that? @SNL @NICKIMINAJ Didn’t think it would be any worse with the song but now with the outfits? Don’t even say that’s not cultural appropriation bc you know damn well it is. Are you that desperate for attention?
— Elaine Kwong (@ESQUEEZY) May 20, 2018
Asian Americans weren’t the only ones to scream cultural appropriations, others did as well.
Chopsticks in her hair and dancers in Vietnamese conical hats? Who wants to tell Nikki Minaj? pic.twitter.com/vfi6zOn8oI
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) May 20, 2018
Not so much appropriation but it’s lazy mishmash of multiple Asian stereotypes. The hats are Vietnamese, Chun-Li is a Chinese name from the Japanese developed Street Fighter II…the exaggerated false teeth are straight out of WWII anti-Japanese propaganda cartoons.
— skanex (@skanex) May 20, 2018
Holy cultural appropriation Nikki Minaj #SNL
— Steve (@goingtopshelf) May 20, 2018
Still others came to Minaj’s defense.
As an Asian American I have no problem with Nicki Minaj’s performance. Everyone is so overly sensitive. Appropriation is a part of art and expression #NickiOnSNL #SNL
— |R|S (@zerofoxgiven75) May 20, 2018
I just saw that some dumbass said Nikki Minaj’s SNL performance wasn’t cultural appropriation b/c Buddha was Black. Another one said her grandpa was Japanese therefore…cool. Good to know I as a half Puerto Rican can dress up as a Mexican stereotype. Sounds legit ✌??
— Chelle Ramos (@chelle_writes14) May 21, 2018
Cultural appropriation is hogwash and I have no problem with Nikki Minaj’s SNL performance other than good rap+bad music. BUT the hypocrisy is nuts. Only white people are called out. I would argue whether she has Japanese grandpa is immaterial to that performance.
— Gator McKluskey (@Kenge_Carboy) May 20, 2018
According to the site, Ethni-celebs, Minaj is possibly 1/8th Japanese.
Her grandfather is Indo-Trinidadian and the rest of her family is Afro-Trinidadian.
Where do you fall in this controversy?
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RE: Nikki Minaj Accused of cultural appropriation after SNL performance: Why is #EastAsianFetish + #CulturalAppropriation growing in #PopMusic?
Both @nbcSNL + @Eurovision are supposed to be savvy, ironic & camp. Instead, #racism towards #EastAsians is allowed on their shows:
1) @NICKIMINAJ #ChunLi http://asamnews.com/2018/05/21/nikki-minaj-accused-of-cultural-appropriation-after-snl-performance/ via @asamnews
2) @NettaBarzilai #Toy https://youtu.be/84LBjXaeKk4
RE: Nikki Minaj accused of cultural appropriation after SNL performance: Nicki is part Indian, South Asian, on her father’s side. As the author you should have done a bit more research cause there is a video of her saying this.
RE: Nikki Minaj Accused of cultural appropriation after SNL performance: Lana is correct. Nikki’s parents are both from Trinidad and Tobago and of African heritage, but the father does have a small amount of Indian heritage.
RE: Nikki Minaj accused of cultural appropriation after SNL peformance: @Lana, what does her South Asian heritage have to do with her East Asian “Oriental Chinoiserie” panto presentation?