After facing criticism online following her NAACP Image Awards nomination, Awkwafina addressed charges that she uses a “blaccent” in films. Awkwafina was nominated for “Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance” in Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”  Although the NAACP does not only nominate Black performers, some people on social media took issue with her due to past “blaccent” charges leveled about her.

The actress, whose actual name is Nora Lum, issued a statement earlier today in response to accusations that her usage of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and “blaccent” — a voice that stereotypically imitates types of Black American speech — were designed to insult Black people.

She says at the outset of her apology, “There is a sociopolitical context to everything, especially the historical context of the African American community in this country,” which has been “disproportionately affected by institutionalized policies and law enforcement policies.”

“All the while having historically and routinely seen their culture stolen, exploited and appropriated by the *dominant* culture for monetary gain, without acknowledgment nor respect for where those roots come from, the pioneers of its beginnings and the artists that perfected and mastered the craft,” she continued.

Awkwafina continued that cultural appropriation still occurs today, but some define it as a “convoluted mixture” of younger generations mixing online slang and AAVE.

She says that personal usage of it is attributed to her immigrant background, public school atmosphere, TV and film consumption, as well as her “respect for hip-hop.”

“I think as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them, what is correct and where they don’t belong,” she said, “And though I’m still learning and doing that personal work, I know for sure that I want to spend the rest of my career doing nothing but lifting our communities. ​We do the first by failing, learning, acknowledging, hearing and empathizing and I will continue tirelessly to do just that.”

“But as a non-black POC, I stand that I will always listen and work tirelessly to understand the history and context of AAVE, what is deemed appropriate or backwards toward the progress of ANY and EVERY marginalized group,” she wrote. ​”But I must emphasize: To mock, belittle, or to be unkind in any way possible at the expense of others is: Simply. ​Not. My. Nature.” ​

“It never has, and it never was,” Awkwafina continued.

“Well, I’ll see you in a few years, Twitter – per my therapist,” Awkwafina added. ​”To my fans, thank you for continuing to love and support someone who wishes they could be a better person for you. ​I apologize if I ever fell short, in anything I did. ​You’re in my heart always.”

The actress went on to say, “I am retiring from the ingrown toenail that is Twitter. Not retiring from anything else, even if I wanted to, and I didn’t drunkenly hit someone with a shoehorn and now escaping as a fugitive. Also am avail on all other socials that don’t tell you to kill yourself!”

Awkwafina, who began her career as a rapper and comedian, rose to prominence with her roles in the highly acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians and the heist picture Ocean’s 8.

In a September 2021 interview with Reuters Showbiz, the actress was asked about her long-standing employment of AAVE and a blaccent in both comic and tragic parts, and she gave a briefer response.

The Queens native said, “Um, you know, I’m open to the conversation. I think it’s something that’s a little bit multi-faceted and layered.”

Awkwafina also sparked controversy in 2017 when she said 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.”