Last September, Awkwafina addressed the criticism over her past use of a “Blaccent” onscreen, in an on-camera Reuters interview.
“You’re welcome to have a conversation,” she replied. It is something I believe is multifaceted and multilayered.
In 2017, amid the backlash, Awkwafina also drew controversy for saying in a VICE interview, “I’ve walked out of auditions where the casting director all of a sudden changed her mind and asked for accents. I refuse to do accents.”
Awkwafina is also praised for her work to encourage diversity in Hollywood, despite all the controversy. BD WongShe plays the role of her father on the show. Nora, Queens, praised the star in a 2020 People interview, saying she has “hired a lot of women and a lot of people of color.”
Awkwafina was the 2019 speaker The Hollywood Reporter, “I think that there’s a progressive shift in Hollywood right now. Diverse people are not a new trend. It’s a trend that will not go away. Diversity is an essential part of life. My experiences in projects were reflective of this and I feel very fortunate to have been a part.