Pokimane Responds to “Frustrating” Race Debate After Cooking Fusion Dish
2 min read
Image via X@pokimanelol
Imane ‘Pokimane’ Anys, the popular Moroccan-Canadian Twitch streamer, recently found herself at the center of a heated debate about her ethnicity after posting a cooking collaboration. The video, uploaded on November 21, featured Pokimane and ChefBoylee putting a Korean twist on tagine, a traditional Moroccan stew, creating a fusion dish that celebrated both of their cultural backgrounds.
While the collaboration received praise from many, some comments sparked frustration for Pokimane. Critics accused her of “ruining” the traditional tagine by adding cheese, while others reignited a recurring discussion about her race. One comment read: “Guys, don’t be fooled, she’s not Asian,” sparking accusations of race-baiting and prompting Pokimane to address the issue head-on.
Taking to her Instagram stories, Pokimane voiced her frustration. “Some of the comments I’m getting are making me want to rip my hair out,” she said. She explained that for years, people have assumed she is of Asian descent—a misconception she doesn’t find offensive but feels no obligation to correct.
“I try very hard to represent Morocco because I’m so proud of where I’m from,” she continued. “To have people pretend like I’m pretending not to be Moroccan? That’s the whole point of the video!”
Poki via Instagram story #2 pic.twitter.com/vlnWo8zCxX
— Pokimane Updates 💌 (@PokimaneNews) November 21, 2024
Pokimane, who moved to Canada from Morocco at the age of four, has always been open about her heritage and fluent in Arabic, French, and English. Despite her efforts to showcase her background, she expressed exhaustion over the constant remarks questioning her identity.
“I get so tired of the energy people bring when it comes to ethnicity, where we’re from, or our lived experiences,” she added. “I just don’t get it.”
This isn’t the first time Pokimane’s ethnicity has been a topic of discussion online. Fellow streamer Valkyrae once expressed confusion over comparisons between the two, pointing out, “Poki’s not even Asian, she’s Moroccan. I don’t see it.”
Poki via Instagram story #3 pic.twitter.com/1MsCwzOl7y
— Pokimane Updates 💌 (@PokimaneNews) November 21, 2024
For Pokimane, the backlash over her cooking video is another chapter in a long history of online discourse about her identity. Despite the negativity, she remains committed to sharing and celebrating her Moroccan roots.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
