How The Internet Fell Out of Love With Gwen Stefani

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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 For Sure, No Doubt
5:22 Ahoy, Cultural Appropriation!
8:40 Identity Crisis?
11:09 Do You Want To Get Closer To God This Lent?
15:46 Everything Is Political Now, Basically

Music:
End Slate:

Gwen Stefani has once more riled the internet with her latest public image reincarnation, with some accusing her of taking on the role of Christian MAGA loyalist.
On the eve of the deluxe edition of her album Bouquet's release, Stefani has been on the receiving end of a robust bundle of online criticism. The former No Doubt singer recently praised actor Jonathan Roumie for his interview with right-wing talking head Tucker Carlson, leading some online commenters to label her a “right wing grifter.”
Roumie, who plays Jesus Christ on the series The Chosen, discussed Christianity with Carlson, drawing Stefani’s admiration.

[Chuu_Vault]

Finding about the treatment of the Harajuku Girls and the fact that Gwen's team tried to trademark Harajuku....that was crazy work

[cardiganweather]

Wow, this shit really IS bananas, b a n a n a s.

[andireadsbooks]

"what DO you care about?" seems to be the relevant question of the time we are living in

[HazyCosmics]

This is what it feels like when someone you’re friends with subtly drops hints that they dislike someone you’ve disliked for a long time and now you get to talk crazy shit

[dalia]

I think politics for rich people is more about money than values. Seeing famous people go for trump is not surprising. They’re worried for their money, not some random person who’s life is in jeopardy

[Rngbanana]

Oh god Perez Hilton jump scare warning

ETA: 0:04 for about 4 seconds

[Lizzie-vekt]

I completely agree that she doesn’t have a strong sense of self. When she was dating her No Doubt band mate Tony, who has Pakistani and Indian heritage, she was going around wearing bindis all the time. Then when she was with her ex-husband Gavin, her style was definitely more rocker chic and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she embraced Vivienne Westwood’s aesthetic since she was a pioneer of punk fashion. Then, when she got together with Blake Shelton, her style and persona changed once again. I think it’s natural for artists to evolve and even have different “eras” but it’s interesting to me how all of her changes coincided with who she was in a relationship with at the time. Even though Madonna has had her fair share of cultural appropriation and controversy, at least all of her eras and rebrands weren’t tied to who she was dating.

[jenx]

so as an elder millennial, the harajuku girls were NOT gwen’s first brush with cultural appropriation. when no doubt first came onto the scene, gwen wore tons of indian-inspired fashion, with including jeweled bindis and sarees—and the bindis in particular were everywhere, like claire’s was selling little plastic stick-on bindis like crazy. she single-handedly had suburban white girls wearing jeweled bindis to classes and middle school dances. (don’t ask me how i know.) when the harajuku girls debuted, those of us cringing in retrospect over the bindis were like “oh so this is *a thing* for her.” i genuinely think a big part of her musical downturn was the 2010s culture would’ve made her schtick of stealing asian cultural tropes TOO obvious and led to her being called out, or we would’ve gotten k-pop gwen in a sexy hanbok by now.
EDIT: she also appropriated black culture, chola culture, native warchief headdresses, rasta culture, ska itself... honestly gwen makes drake look like your wokest friend.

[LostCommenter]

As someone who has followed Gwen's career most of my life it's disappointing but not surprising.

Her insensitivity towards other cultures and unwillingness to have conversations about how her she contributed to negative culture appropriation showed she didn’t give a shit if her image/art was disrespectful.

I think you hit the nail on the head pretty hard in the outro. These next 4 years are gonna be revealing

[Domorrigana]

I don't get how she was celebrated by the media for aging "so beautifully" for years there. She has had a facelift and brow lift and a lot of filler. It's like J-Lo all over again like can we get real please.

[jenjenbeingbored]

‘Has Gwen Stefani seen Conclave?’ will keep me up at night

[ripwednesdayadams]

the alt youth gen x to adult right wing pipeline is strong unfortunately

[lakegroce]

Holla Back Girl came on the radio while I was at work one day and I was just thinking “I wonder what’s she’s doing now” Glad I got my answer so quickly.

[SharkeySpice]

It’s really well contrasted by what people like Gaga who is still so vocally riding for feminism and lgbt people.

[LunaWitcherArt]

*taps the sign:
SAYING YOU SAW IT COMING DOES NOT MAKE YOU IMMUNE TO PROPAGANDA

[lunasuji]

Even if you're not personally a fan of these celebs, it's important to discuss how they're a) a sign of easy it is right now to side with dehumanizing ideals and b) how by siding with them they make it easier and more acceptable. Like a self perpetuating cycle. (This is how I felt about the removal of the target pride collection)

[sallyversace]

As a millenial who grew up listening to No Doubt, I feel obligated to add more context to the cultural appropriation segment.

When "Tragic Kingdom" came out, Gwen would often wear a bindi on her forehead, something she took from Indian culture, and didn't think anything of because she was dating/had dated her bandmate Tony Kanal (most of No Doubt's songs are about him and/or Gavin Rossdale). "

Around the time that "Return Of Saturn" (my personal fave) was released, Gwen was seen multiple times wearing her hair in cornrow braids, a hairstyle that was created and popularized by black women, for black women.

On the same album as the "Harajuku Girls" song, there's another song "Luxurious", and in the video she dresses and wears her makeup in the sterotypical "chola" style, which originated with Mexican women, particularly those in southern California.

One more thing I want to mention is her teaming up with Mark Wahlberg. There are obviously many things to dislike about him, including his own instances of cultural appropriation during his failed rap career, but probably the most glaring is that he committed multiple hate crimes during the 80's when he was growing up in Boston.

[Lexichi]

I was OBSESSED with Gwen Stefani as a kid (I still kinda am, tbh.) Our birthdays are one day apart. Tragic Kingdom was the soundtrack of my soul! I WISH I could say I was completely shocked by her leanings as of late, but the cultural appropriation (both Japanese AND Black culture) simultaneous with her marriage to Blake Shelton marked the start of her fall from grace in my eyes. I'm still devastated, honestly.

[badandy]

OMG KAYLA, the bit RE: you were raised catholic is quite LITERALLY my script on the topic word for word. I said just yesterday when a co-worker ‘found out’ I’m catholic. “Well, I was raised catholic. (but not simply born to catholic parents, no no) like I’ve done all the ‘childhood’ sacraments… but I’m not devout… I’m culturally catholic.” lmaoo I sometimes feel a little cringe over-explaining that, BUT it’s obviously served me well enough to ‘explain myself’ that I felt it necessary to develop a canned PR-approved response over the years.

super fun seeing your version. i felt seen. i felt instant fellowship. and i would march into battle for you.

[MissAlmostFine]

This presidential term is going to reveal the flip floppers from ppl truly interested in justice and equity of marginalized groups. Gwen won't be the last.