Many social media users blast the 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' star and the NAACP after the actress is nominated for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her role in 'Raya and the Last Dragon'.
- Jan 20, 2022
AceShowbiz - Awkwafina may need to hold herself back from celebrating her NAACP Image Award nomination. The Golden Globe-winning actress has faced backlash after she received a nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her role in "Raya and the Last Dragon".
While the NAACP does not exclusively nominate black entertainers, people took issue with the fact that the comedian/rapper has previously come under fire for allegedly appropriating African-American culture. She has been accused of using blaccent for years.
So, instead of congratulating the 33-year-old star, many took to social media to express their outrage. "Awkwafina & J Balvin accepting nominations and awards meant for the Black community is exactly the lack of POC solidarity we be talking about," one Twitter user pointed out.
A baffled user wrote, "Awkwafina getting recognition from the NAACP for Raya even though she's done a horrible blaccent in 80% of her work and won't even acknowledge she's wrong for it… Idk that's a big word for Elmo."
"Awkwafina got an NAACP award. I know Shaun King mad af," a third commented. Another was equally confused as writing, "Out of all the awards, I would think the NAACP Image Awards would be the last one to nominate someone like Awkwafina, who thinks it is ok to make a minstrel out of Black people for a living. Yikes."
"lmao this is f**king pathetic," someone called out the nomination. Another reacted, "This is the same institution that snubbed POSE-a show full of queer/trans Black people-in 2019. It is also the same institution that nominated Meghan McCain for an award that same cycle. And now they're shoving Ms. Vag back in my face."
Awkwafina herself posted on her Instagram Story after receiving the nomination, "Extremely honored to be nominated at the @naacp image awards, alongside so many people I love, appreciate and respect. Thank you @naacp for all that you do and have done." She has not reacted to the criticism.
