Last Sunday, November 21st, the American Music Awards aired with a performance by Cardi B. Introducing the performance of Italian rock band Måneskin, she sat at a table with a checkered tablecloth and a large plate of spaghetti. However, this is not being frowned upon by Italians, who are massacring the rapper through social media.
Italians don’t define themselves by noodles and that kind of stereotype. For many, it was a way of practicing xenophobia.
Who's 🆙 next, @iamcardib? It's @thisismaneskin here to perform their song "Beggin"! 🎵#AMAs #ManeskinAMAs #CardiAMAs pic.twitter.com/N70UrEY7wJ
— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 22, 2021
“It’s always the same, Italy = spaghetti, stop that stereotype, it’s ridiculous“, commented someone on twitter.
It’s always the same thing, Italia = spaghetti, please stop with this stereotype, it’s ridiculous!!!!!!
— Maria (@Maria04450579) November 23, 2021
“Ignorance and cliches! Italy is fashion, luxury, style, culture, history, sport, music, opera. Italy is Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, Mazzanti. Italy is Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Armani, Valentino, Prada. Italy is Maneskin, Morricone, Marcell Jacobs, Giorgio Parisi”, listed another Italian.
Ignorance and clichés! Italy is fashion, luxury fashion, style, culture, history, sport, music, opera. Italy is Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, Mazzanti. Italy is Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Armani, Valentino, Prada.Italy is Maneskin,Morricone,Marcell Jacobs,Giorgio Parisi…
— Elsa Bessi (@SBESSINA) November 23, 2021
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Among the people who criticized this action is Lapo Elkann, the heir of Fiat, exasperated by the cliché of the Italian all “pizza and mandolin”.
“Wake up and smell the coffee, Cardi B”, thundered Gianni Agnelli’s nephew.
“Italy is not spaghetti and wine, it is much much more. Italy is beauty, culture, Leonardo, Ferrari, opera. So before introducing Italian artists please learn and prepared. It is very sad to use stereotypes to welcome Maneskin.
Wake up and smell the coffee @iamcardib . 🇮🇹 is not spaghetti and wine, it's much much more. Italy is beauty, culture, Leonardo, Ferrari, opera. So before you introduce italian artists please learn and be prepared. It's so sad to use 🇮🇹-🇺🇸 stereotypes to welcome @thisismaneskin https://t.co/mU4zSz0o17
— Lapo Elkann (@lapoelkann_) November 23, 2021
Cardi B promptly replied in kind, then deleted the message.
“Will you give me a full lesson on an awards show? Should I have brought a Ferrari to the stage?” The AMAs host quipped.
“I also made jokes about my hometown. People want to feel outraged for no reason, in no way was I trying to be offensive“, conclude the rapper.
It is noteworthy that Cardi B is not at fault at all. For this, she had an entire production that thought about the concept and prepared the scenic elements. Perhaps it was an ignorance of those involved that this could be offensive, but it can be a learning experience.
