Gwen Stefani

The Canadian influencer first met the "Rich Girl" singer after interviewing No Doubt for Much Music.

Stefani, who is of Irish and Italian descent, is facing backlash after referring to herself as "Japanese" in a new interview.

UCLA's American Indian Studies Center released a statement that said the video contained "highly offensive and destructive images of Native peoples in general and Native women specifically." In the 2005 video for "Luxurious," the singer was made up to resemble Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and broke open piñatas. As a solo artist, she switched from her previous indie rocker look to hip-hop attire, as seen in the video for the 2004 hit "Hollaback Girl." The video featured Stefani sporting dreadlocks. One of her most controversial decisions was hiring four Japanese backup dancers known as the Harajuku Girls, who often appeared dressed in school girl uniforms. Stefani also faced criticism in 2016. "Spot on," one responded to her post. Elsewhere in the interview, Stefani also revealed that she identified with the Hispanic and Latinx communities of Anaheim, California, where she grew up. Don't be and don't [support] ignorance." Said another: "ALL generations suck!!! "Wow," one responded. "Even though I'm an Italian American—Irish or whatever mutt that I am—that's who I became because those were my people, right?"

Two TV personalities have come forward to defend Gwen Stefani against accusations of cultural appropriation after the singer insisted that she is Japanese.

(CNN) — Music star Gwen Stefani has been called out for comments made about her affinity to Japan during an interview with Allure magazine, while promoting ...

“Gwen Stefani’s publicist must be busy today,” read a tongue-in-cheek tweet from American author Roxane Gay, while The Cut reporter Olivia Truffaut-Wong accused Stefani of using “Asian women as props to help her get rich.” “I think it was a beautiful time of creativity…a time of the ping-pong match between Harajuku culture and American culture,” Stefani continued. Calaor outlined her discomfort at Stefani’s comments, particularly against the “sobering” backdrop of increased racism towards Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the United States. “If (people are) going to criticize me for being a fan of something beautiful and sharing that, then I just think that doesn’t feel right,” she told Calaor, in defense of her Harajuku era. She later also referred to herself as a “superfan” of the culture. In response, Stefani spoke about her father’s regular business trips to Japan, explaining that he would come back with stories that were “fascinating” to her, before telling Calaor she thought she was Japanese when she first visited the Harajuku area of Tokyo.

Gwen Stefani at a party to introduce her Harajuku Lovers children's collection in 2015. Gwen Stefani has faced accusations of appropriating Japanese culture ...

[criticized](https://www.buzzfeed.com/reggieugwu/pharrell-on-elle-cover-controversy-i-am-genuinely-sorry) for wearing a Native American war bonnet on the UK cover of Elle Magazine in 2014, and Zac Efron [faced backlash](https://www.insider.com/zac-efron-accused-cultural-over-dreadlocks-2018-7) for sporting dreadlocks "just for fun." "Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people. Perry also received backlash for wearing cornrows in a music video, and One scene from the music video had her tied up as a blonde Pocahontas figure, while another showed Stefani dancing in front of a bonfire in an imitation of a powwow celebration. [said](https://www.byrdie.com/bantu-knots-history-5214601) to resemble shapes in the cosmos and are considered sacred. This is of great concern to us and we are removing the video immediately." "As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Stefani surrounded herself with Latin American extras and donned a Frida Kahlo-inspired outfit while she whacked piñatas. Stefani's deployment of Japanese culture in the music and commercial industries drew criticism from figures like Margaret Cho. Baby" and enlisted four Japanese American backup dancers to follow her on tours and events. "We learn from each other, we share from each other, we grow from each other. In 2004, Stefani released her debut solo album "Love.

Fans are wondering about Gwen Stefani's parents amid her claim to be Japanese creates controversy. Has here appreciation for the culture gone too far?

[instance of Gwen](https://www.distractify.com/p/gwen-stefani-necklace-on-the-voice) stepping in it with regards to her ties to Japanese culture. Gwen shared a story about how her dad exposed her to [Japanese culture](https://www.distractify.com/p/what-does-nico-nico-nii-mean) with an [Allure](https://www.allure.com/story/gwen-stefani-japanese-harajuku-lovers-interview) writer who describes herself as “first-generation Filipina American.” [Gwen Stefani](https://www.distractify.com/p/gwen-stefani-kids) put her foot in her mouth in a January 2023 interview in Allure, claiming she is Japanese. It isn't a Hilaria Baldwin situation, where she claims she’s from Spain, and she’s not. [coach from The Voice](https://www.distractify.com/p/why-is-gwen-stefani-leaving-the-voice) was born in California in 1969 to Dennis and Patti Stefani. Blake Shelton](https://www.distractify.com/p/blake-shelton-and-gwen-stefani-still-dating) mean by this comment? First, consider a small sampling of what Twitter was buzzing about upon Gwen’s interview going viral. “Gwen Stefani clearly didn’t try to misrepresent that she’s in fact Japanese. “That is a compliment, you dumba-- Allure writer. [Megyn Kelly](https://www.distractify.com/p/megyn-kelly-scandal) came to Gwen’s defense during her Sirius XM show, taking the angle of comparing the singer’s comments to those of Alec Baldwin’s wife [Hilaria around being Spanish](https://www.distractify.com/p/hilaria-baldwin-parents), per the [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2023/01/11/megyn-kelly-defends-gwen-stefanis-japanese-claims-not-a-hilaria-baldwin/). In 2004 when her album “Love.Angel.Music.Baby.” was released, and then in 2008 when fans were introduced to her Harajuku Lovers beauty and clothing brands, [accusations of cultural appropriation](https://www.distractify.com/p/hailey-bieber-cultural-appropriation) followed. Patti worked as an accountant and Dennis worked at Yamaha, traveling from Japan to the Golden State over the course of his 18-year tenure with the company.