The Internet Freaks Out
If you’re wondering why that tweet went viral and sparked such a backlash, here’s a quick run-down. Keziah is an 18-year-old white woman, with no Chinese roots. However, she wore a traditional Chinese dress, known as a qipao, or cheongsam. Since Keziah is not Chinese, some argued that she was culturally appropriating Chinese culture. In the blink of an eye, Keziah was under fire, and part of heated, global debate about cultural appropriation!
My Culture Is Not Your Prom Dress
One of the fiercest critics on twitter was Jeremy Lam, who famously retweeted Keziah’s post with the caption: “My culture is not your … prom dress.” That one tweet sparked a further debate in itself, with around 14,000 retweets, nearly 180,000 likes and over 60,000 people talking about it!