INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA: In this image released on May 2, J Balvin attends Global Citizen VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Global Citizen VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World will be broadcast on May 8, 2021. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE)
Colombian singer and rapper J Balvin is trending this morning after he won the award for Afro-Latino Artist Of The Year at the African Entertainment Awards. While Balvin reportedly had no hand in the win or nomination, folks are furious that he was chosen over artists who are in fact Black.
After winning the award on Sunday evening, J Balvin took to this Instagram story to clarify that he is not afro-latino but thanked the African Entertainment Awards for the recognition. Shortly after, the AE Awards put out a statement explaining that the award is not exclusively given based on race, but an artist’s contributions to “pushing the African culture on the world stage”
“The Afro Latino category (AFRO-BEAT LATINO ARTIST) is for any artist based in Latin America that is contributing to the African culture especially the Afro-beats sound globally,” a post from the AE Awards Instagram account read. “It is not based on race but more importantly based on pushing the African culture forward on the world stage.”
The post continued, asking fans to send positivity and encouragement to artists who are “bridging the gap between Africa and Latin America.”
“Please remember the nominees in this category had no say in their nomination or influence on the award show. Instead of voicing dissatisfaction, let us encourage these artists to continue bridging the gap between Africa and Latin America. We are asking for your continued support, assistance and guidance in the nomination process for 2022,” the statement concluded.
Although J Balvin acknowledged he is not afro-latino, folks online criticized him for being racially problematic in the past. As we previously reported, the Colombian superstar issued an apology in October for walking two Black women on leashes in his music video for “Perra”.
Nevertheless, J Balvin has accepted the award for his “contribution of Afro beat music and its movement.”
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