“Light The Fire, ” the collaboration with dancehall star Sean Paul and Jamaican vocalist Shenseea, sees “The Voice” coach sport dreadlocks and an eco-friendly and yellow outfit that matches the particular Jamaican flag whilst singing to a rocksteady beat.
Stefani faced the barrage of criticism on social media after the song’s premiere on Wednesday, with many bloggers accusing her associated with intentionally appropriating the particular culture for her individual gain.
“Gwen Stefani is BACK with a cultural appropriation banger, ” tweeted one person.
Another agreed, writing: “Y’all. Mother Appropriation is BACK!!!! Where our 2000s No Doubt/Gwen hive at!!!?? ITS TIME!!! ”
The particular No Doubt alum seemed to be reminded of previously claims that she appropriated other cultures to further her songs career by duplicating Japanese street design, wearing a bindi within music videos, and styling her hair in Bantu knots.
However , several fans came to the girl defense, with 1 user writing pointing out that Sean Paul, who made an appearance with Stefani in the video, is themself Jamaican, adding which he “even praised Gwen for embracing the particular culture for years. ”
CNN has contacted Stefani’s representatives for opinion.
Within 2006, comedian Margaret Cho branded Stefani’s Harajuku Girls — a troupe of Japanese and Japanese-American dancers she proceeded to go around with at that time — a “minstrel show. ”
Last year, the particular musician responded to accusations of cultural appropriation in an interview with Paper journal, reiterating that the lady simply pays homage.
“If we failed to buy and sell and industry our cultures in, we wouldn’t have got so much beauty, you know? ” she mentioned at the time. “We learn from each other, we talk about from each other, we grow from each other. And all these rules are just dividing us more and more. ”