‘Kung Fu Vagina’ Ad Raises Brows Due To Offending Asian Stereotypes
Image via Kim Anami
A music video, titled Kung Fu Vagina, which is packed with stereotypes about East Asian people, has caused controversy online.
Kim Anami, a self-proclaimed “holistic sex and relationship expert,” released the video to promote the use of jade eggs in vagina weightlifting.
Viewers are greeted with the opening titles of the song in the dated “wonton font,” a typeface that resembles brush strokes used in Chinese characters to indicate “orientalness.”
Anami, a Caucasian woman, then shows up with Asian and Black women, who appear to be her “sidekicks.” She is seen walking towards the camera and winking at viewers, with chopsticks in her hair and a bastardized version of a kimono, a traditional Japanese garment.
The song, which parodies the 1974 disco hit Kung Fu Fighting, features lyrics that praise the supposed benefits of vaginal weightlifting. “Everybody wants a kung fu vagina, it starts with a jade egg from China. No need for lube or saliva, to become a vag messiah,” sings the vocalist.
The dancers in the also mimicks martial arts moves against a background filled with red lanterns and Japanese shoji screens.
The video has been accused of racism on Instagram and Twitter. Social media users shared their opinions online, with one writing, “That’s right! A highly offensive and deeply problematic video to promote your business. Yay?” while another wrote, “It is 2021 and you went into the dump and grabbed all the racist Asian tropes that Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sweet Sixteen apologized for and tried to revive them.”
Popular fashion watchdog account Diet Prada has also reposted the video on its Instagram account, stating that the creative team behind Kung Fu Vagina was mostly made up of non-Asian contributors.
“With the credits boasting primarily non-Asian creative contributors, we’re left with the age-old question: Why?” it said.
“Why did this have to be made at all? Why couldn’t this have been made without using harmful ‘Oriental’ tropes?” Diet Prada wrote.
That’s right! A highly offensive and deeply problematic video to promote your business. Yay?
— Diana Chang (@duaba) February 1, 2021
I’m not looking forward to the teary eyed, non-apology apology that will be coming in 3-5 days.
— Jared Chiang-Zeizel (@chiangzeizel) February 2, 2021
This is plain racist.
— Definitely Not James Comey (@ohlordy_cmonman) February 2, 2021
I wish someone loved you enough to tell you this was a terrible idea before you made it.
— Jannette (@JCooper459) February 2, 2021
It is 2021 and you really went into the dump and grabbed all the racist Asian tropes that Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Sweet Sixteen apologized for and tried to revive them. pic.twitter.com/DYnwd0PrwV
— kc. (@KATnapppperr) February 2, 2021
Brief dissection of @KimAnami Kung Fu Vagina video. Posted on my IG story yesterday. 2/2 https://t.co/oIgIziWHUp pic.twitter.com/bKp0ieBwrz
— Karlie Wu 胡嘉瑤 (@wet_celery) February 2, 2021
[via Cosmopolitan, cover image via Kim Anami]
Also check out these recent news
