Twitter is criticizing actress Awkwafina after she said in an interview with Vice that she doesn’t audition for roles where she’d have to use an Asian accent or mock the Asian community, but is seemingly OK with misappropriating Black Americans.

Last year, The Chronicle detailed how some people have condemned the actress for using “Black aesthetics” in order to rise to fame.

“Awkwafina has made a career out of performing a caricatured interpretation of Blackness,” Hannah Miao, a journalist for The Chronicle wrote.

“Coopting African American Vernacular English (AAVE), speaking in a 'blaccent' and playing characters that could be interpreted as minstrel-esque, Awkafina has worn Blackness like a costume, putting it on when it commercially rewards her ('Crazy Rich Asians' and 'Oceans 8')” she continued.

She rose to fame in 2012 after her song “My Vag” went viral where she rapped about her private area, all while using a gangster-like persona. She’s also known for her breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians where she used a “Blaccent” and slang that’s widely used in the Black community.

misappropriation

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