Gwen Stefani claims that she is Japanese
3 min read
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Gwen Stefani has recently found herself in hot waters on social media after revealing that she considers herself partly Japanese.
Here is everything you need to know.
Gwen Stefani’s heritage and nationality explored
Gwen Stefani recently sat down with Allure magazine to promote her latest vegan beauty brand GXVE.
Moreover, during the interview, Stefani chose to stand by her alleged Harajuku heritage.
In addition, the journey questioned Stefani about what she had learned about her supposed Harajuku era.
She replied by saying that she was introduced to Japanese culture by her father who worked at Yahama for 18 years. He was also a frequent traveler between California and Japan.
Gwen Stefani preparing to face the public after saying “I’m Japanese” pic.twitter.com/fgQO0JPzpk
— fr*nky (@FR4NKY20) January 11, 2023
Stefani mentioned, ‘That was my Japanese influence. And that was a culture that was so rich with tradition, yet so futuristic [with] so much attention to art and detail and discipline and it was fascinating to me.’
She continued, ‘I said, “My God, I’m Japanese and I didn’t know it.” I am, you know.’
If you didn’t know, Stefani’s Harajuku era began when she dropped her 2004 debut studio album, ‘Love. Angel. Music. Baby’ and Harajuku Lovers fragrance in 2008.
However, Stefani received immense backlash for cultural appropriation of her album’s artwork and marketing.
Additionally, she traveled with four ‘Harajuku Girls,’ who were Japanese and Japanese-American backup dancers. They accompanied Stefani to red carpets and other events.
Besides that, Stefani was born to an Italian American father and mother who has ancestry in English, Irish, Scottish, German and Norwegian.
Also, she was born in Fullerton, California. Hence, her parents do not have Japanese heritage in their bloodline and neither was the 53-year-old singer born in the country.
Social media users react to Gwen Stefani’s Japanese identification
Many netizens were left baffled by Gwen Stefani’s interview. They slammed her for cultural appropriation.
Furthermore, they pointed out that she cannot claim Japanese heritage just because her father used to travel to Japan.
Meanwhile, others expressed concern over the possibility that she might claim Black culture as well.
A user wrote, ‘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.’
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
— Telon Chusk (@tanyachen) January 10, 2023
Another said, ‘Variety really got Gwen Stefani on the record saying that she’s Japanese AND Latina. I’m just waiting for her to claim her Blackness…’
Variety really got Gwen Stefani on the record saying that she's Japanese AND Latina. I'm just waiting for her to claim her Blackness…
— Aaricka Washington (@aarickawash) January 10, 2023
Someone else chimed in saying, ‘Not Gwen Stefani trying to say she’s Japanese LOL’
Not Gwen Stefani trying to say she’s Japanese LOL
— 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐱 🦇 (@maxxmacabre) January 11, 2023
God, imagine being an Asian American editor and hearing @gwenstefani repeat over & over again, “I’m Japanese”
— Pao ☀️🌙 (@paostrology) January 11, 2023
People like Gwen Stefani can adopt all the cool things they want from Asian cultures, yet won’t have to worry about being pushed off a NYC subway platform bc of her race https://t.co/8KQNdaV5IL
If Gwen Stefani is Japanese, then I’m Filipino. Where are my pinoy family at?
— hugeasmammoth.films (@hugeasmammoth_) January 11, 2023
