The reaching on this page to defend the indefensible is really quite something. It’s not clickbait to position something so obviously offensive as the headline when she said it multiple times during the interview, and to someone of Asian descent no less. Stefani being responsible for bops does not absolve her of this.
Gwen Stefani - 5th Album
- Thread starter mindtrappa
- Start date
I think what would be more interesting is to hear her talk about this.
Yeah, it’s not clickbait for an Asian woman to question a white woman about how she financially benefitted from her appropriation of Harajuku culture and Gwen’s tactless responses are deserving of being the main point of the article. The reason Gwen continues to get asked about it, and will be asked about it again (especially in light of this), is because she refuses to take ownership of her actions or display any kind of growth or education on the subject.
There is a way to be inspired by another culture without offending, there is a way for it to influence your work without profiting directly, Gwen did not manage to do this, and seems to lack the common sense to reflect on that. A simple acknowledgment that her past ‘appreciation’ of the culture was well meaning but misguided and that’s why she’s left it in the past, would do wonders.
There is a way to be inspired by another culture without offending, there is a way for it to influence your work without profiting directly, Gwen did not manage to do this, and seems to lack the common sense to reflect on that. A simple acknowledgment that her past ‘appreciation’ of the culture was well meaning but misguided and that’s why she’s left it in the past, would do wonders.
I don’t say this flippantly, but wonders for who? If she’s in the wrong and she’s comfortable being in the wrong, then the desire for some sort of apology or acknowledgment comes across like people wanting to feel ok about liking Gwen and a lot less about Gwen herself. Like @mindtrappa said, she’s given variations of this answer before, and she’ll probably do it again.
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An apology is nice in theory, and I certainly think anyone offended certainly has the right to demand one, but it doesn’t mean anything if she doesn’t believe it herself. Still, I hope one day she wakes the fuck up, because jokes aside, it’s exhausting that she’s missing a very basic point.
This is the most disgusting part in my eyes.
Reading this mad me mad. Nasty behavior.
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*trademarks Japanese* I'm literally Japanese
Whilst I do think Gwen is a ludicrous mess these days, I think a bit of caution is needed. Many beloved Pop justice stars of her era raided cultures that they had no genuine connection to for ideas whether that's Harijuku, the gays, hip hop... whatever. There's no need to apologise but to double down and say she is Japanese is preposterous and she needs to stop.
I'm still screaming at this, it reads like something that would happen in a satirical Pop star mockumentary or something. What a bizarre thing to say.
She just comes off as completely air headed with this topic. Like you can tell she means no harm, but she just...doesn't get it?
Popstars are still doing that.
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That Allure interview was all the reintroduction the people needed.
