Nicki Minaj Faces Criticism Over Her 'SNL' Performance of "Chun-Li"
Accusations of cultural appropriation.
During the season finale of Saturday Night Live which was hosted by Tina Fey, Nicki Minaj returned to the show for her third time as the show’s musical guest. The rapper gave a performance of her brand new single ”Chun-Li” dressed in a traditional Chinese garb which she references with the song’s Street Fighter character. The performance itself raised eyebrows with many accusing Minaj of appropriating Asian culture.
While the rapper may likely argue that her performance was culture appreciation rather than appropriation, she still caught criticism for the looks she brought on stage. Minaj came out in a shiny kimono as she began her performance walking through an Asian-style pavilion. She was accompanied by a group of dancers dressed as ninjas with black rice-picking hats. Later in the show, Nicki got rid of the robe for a sexy latex piece, which many thought to be disrespectful.
Watch the performance above and decide for yourself. For more on Nicki Minaj, check out the official “Chun Li” music video which was directed by Giovanni Bianco.
