According to Gwen Stefani, she is not the only girl in the world.
She is a unique and unusual woman who suddenly got a lot of backlash for making a lot of culturally insensitive comments.
Not to mention flat-out weird.
Let’s review, shall we?
In a recent interview with Allure magazine about her beauty brand GXVE, the artist looks back on the launch of her first beauty line, the Harajuku Lovers fragrance… inspired by Japan’s Harajuku culture.
While delving into the collection — which has been criticized as a clear example of cultural appropriation — the star doubled down on her decision.
Heck, he even went that far said he was Japanesedespite having an Italian American father and an Irish American mother.
“It’s a Japanese influence and a culture that’s very rich with tradition, but it’s futuristic [with] so much attention to art and detail and discipline and I was amazed,” Stefani told the publication, describing the impact her father’s trip to Japan had on her.
When did he last visit Harajuku himself?
“I said, ‘Oh my God, I’m Japanese and I don’t understand.'”
Maybe he felt a huge impact from this trip…but no. Just no. Gwen Stefani is not Japanese.
Stefani was unfazed in the interview, stating “I am, you know,” while describing herself as a “super fan” and claiming that her relationship with Japanese culture is mixed with “innocence.”
“If [people are] going to criticize me for being a fan of beautiful things and showing that, then I just think that’s not true,” the singer continued.
“I think it’s a time of great creativity… a time of ping-pong between Harajuku culture and American culture.”
The problem here, of course, isn’t Stefani as a fan; that she somehow tries to pass herself off as Japanese, while also making this statement while profiting off the culture.
The 53-year-old went on to note his belief that “it’s always possible to be inspired by other cultures because if it’s not allowed, it can divide people.”
According to the piece, Stefani isn’t stopping.
He then referred to them as Japanese the second time throughout the Q&A.
In addition, she was referred to as an “Orange County girl, a Japanese girl, an English girl.”
He also noted that he “identifies” with the Hispanic and Latinx community in his hometown in California.
“The music, the way the girls wear their makeup, the clothes they wear, that’s my identity,” she said.
“Even though I’m Italian American—Irish or whatever mutt—then I’m somebody else, right?”