Awkwafina nomination for NAACP Image Award sparks renewed backlash
By Bryan Ke
Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, has received online backlash after receiving a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award nomination.
Social media users called out the 33-year-old actor and comedian after she was nominated in the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance category for her work in Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” according to Blavity.
The “Shang-Chi” and “Crazy Rich Asians” actor has been accused in the past of using African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in her onscreen roles and for misappropriating Black culture. Some users have also alleged that she continues to use a “blaccent” (Black accent) in her onscreen roles despite claiming in a past interview that she refuses to do accents, especially Asian ones.
Other users have called out the NAACP, a civil rights organization with “honoring and spotlighting Black achievements and change makers within the community,” for nominating Awkwafina, Now This News reported.
Awkwafina attempted to address the accusation that she was putting on a “blaccent” to advance her career in Hollywood during an interview last September after “Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings” was released, Reuters reported.
“I’m open to the conversation. I think it really is something that is a little bit… multi-faceted and layered,” Awkwafina said.
The comedian was also at the center of controversy in August 2018 when some accused her of misappropriating Black culture due to her portrayal of character Goh Peik Lin in the film “Crazy Rich Asians,” NextShark previously reported.
Featured Image via Vogue
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