The question on whether or not Bruno Mars is a perpetrator of cultural appropriation has been an ongoing one that recently saw yet another surge of interest after the conversation picked back up on social media this past week with a viral video of writer Seren Sensei accusing Mars of taking advantage of black music while black artists are disregarded. With the wave of criticism also came a great amount of support from fans and contemporaries alike.
Most recently singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder chimed in with his opinion on the topic when prompted by TMZ with his sentiment leaning in strong support of Mars. “God created music for everyone to enjoy, so we cannot limit ourselves by people's fears and insecurities. He's a great talent," Stevie explained to the outlet. "That other stuff is just bullshit."
“He was inspired by great musicians and great artists, so that's good," he went on to add and when asked if Bruno deserves “a pass,” he responded, "It's not about a pass, God created music for everybody."
As this conversation continues, supporters of Bruno Mars continue to remind us of the crooner’s contributions to music, specifically R&B, a genre most attributed to black musicians and artists. It was last year that Bruno revealed his appreciation for black artists saying that, "When you say 'black music,' understand that you are talking about rock, jazz, R&B, reggae, funk, doo-wop, hip-hop, and Motown. Black people created it all. So, in my world, black music means everything.”
This quote has also served its purpose in adding to the sub-topic of differentiating between appreciation and appropriation when it comes to artists like Bruno Mars.
Drop off your thoughts on the debate below.