Nintendo is being called out for culturally appropriating Mexican culture with Mario's newest iteration for the Switch, titled Super Mario Odyssey.
People on social media are specially calling out Mario's Mexican outfit, depicted below, in which the iconic character wears a sombrero and a poncho.
Examples of users calling out Nintendo can be found below:
What do you think of Mario's outfit? Is it really the product of cultural appropriation? Let us know in the comments below.
Iplay1up2
Please, put your big boy pants on people! It’s cute and not meant to be racist. There are a few very gay characters in Zelda who are flamboyant as heck. As a gray man should I be outraged by the much more exaggerated representation of gay men?????
Anonymous
As a Mexican i’m not offended, white lady’s that are offended for my you can go an suck my big hairy Mexican balls
Anonymous
All of a sudden this is racist? He had been protesting Italian-americans as uneducated, stupid, blue collar workers, and the ethnic slur goomba has always been in the game. But now its racist. Let that sink in.
Anonymous
People need to get a damn life. It’s a video game!!!! Anything for people to pull the race card. This is 2017, not 1950 idiots!!
Milotheshepard
Omfg! Get over it, it isn’t racist! SMO is just showing culture. It is making a statement. If you feel it is racist, dont play it. What’s next? Black carp is rasist? Asian carp? Redskins? Omfg get over it!
V3rmit
Everybody’s trolling, nobody thinks Mario could be racist in a million years.
David Lozada
I hope so!
Trumpfan2016
I love how he is in front of a wall too lol!
David Lozada
Wow, totally unintentional o_o
LatinArtist
Mario or Nintendo are not racist
maggot
source from tumblr
i think i seen enough
David Lozada
My source says Twitter…
Derek Rumpler
Do people even know the meaning of the word “racist” anymore?
If I am in Mexico and I go to a clothing shop, I can expect them to sell clothing related to that culture. If I live in another culture, even if I am white, I can expect to even buy and wear clothes native to the culture I am in.
This is a Mexico-themed level. So the shop will sell Mexico-themed clothing.
Now if you dress up as a Mexican for Halloween then that is a different matter since you are turning the culture into a costume. It trivializes the experience.
I see Super Mario Odyssey as celebrating diversity with clothes like this. One of the creators even said the Mexico-themed level was inspired by a vacation he took to Mexico. So the level was made in appreciation of Mexico which you don’t see a lot.
Let me say it this way . . . if Nintendo (a Japanese company) put Mario in a kimono, even though he is a white Italian man, would that be considered racist or appropriation? It is their character and they get to decide to do that.
I see nothing that mocks or makes light of Mexico. The content is made in appreciation. So it is totally not racist.
I have even seen people who are Mexican say they are fine with it. But hey, leave it to people to selectively decide who they are going to side with to push an agenda.
David Lozada
Well said my friend
Shadepriest
I live in Mexico and I beg to differ even in Halloween if you dress as a Mexican i don’t feel offended I wear t-shirts and jeans everyday that doesn’t mean I’m dressing up as an American, if you want to wear a fake mustache and wear a sombrero go ahead
Anonymous
Shut up.
Page
Excelent out fit. Its a mario game dont cangw the normal mario ways cause the new generation is more emotion then the old!
iCabrales
Guess the author of this didn’t do proper research before posting this… why don’t you use tweets from actual Mexicans? Also as many said it already, the reference to a certain game. And last thing, that is not a poncho, it’s a Sarape, do your research and name things properly before uploading anything.
Gato Brujo
oh look: a bunch of white, middle-class american liberals being offended on behalf of other culture, so they can feel morally superior and get a few likes on social media…why am i not surprised?
Milotheshepard
Ikr!? It gets worse as the years pass. Asian carp is a rasist name! It is not rasist, it just comes from Asia…
Raul
Mexican Speaking…
Arriba Super Mario Odyssey, tiene todo mi permiso de ser el mejor juego jamas creado muchas gracias. No tienen idea de como me encanta ese Mario tan bonito :D. Muchos pueden pensar lo que quieran pero no hay Mexicano al que no le guste este Mario.
Do you EVEN remember how mexicans loved Spidey Gonzales?!!!!
MikeLiRoy
Please view 53 seconds into this Qix video for the original Gameboy. Look familiar? What do you think is being referenced in Odyssey?
Please people. Calm down and move on.
MikeLiRoy
There are other “stereo types” in this game too. Where was the uproar when this launched?
David Lozada
We live in a different world with a wide range of different opinions. Everyone has a voice now, it seems.
David Lozada
Again, super cool reference that I never noticed before. Good job finding this!
dgnfly
People whining about this kinda bullshit need to get shot in the back of the head cause their stupidity is like a disease nowadays.
David Lozada
Not cool dude…
Lero
No, it’s not cultural appropriation. Mario is just wearing a sombrero and a poncho, and that’s all. He’s not telling everyone Mexicans wear and act that way, neither he is being racist. Stop exagerating things, please.
_blocky47
Not your guys’ fault that you didn’t notice that it was actually a reference to a game called Qix. Do your research before you post, kids!
David Lozada
I admit, I actually had no idea about this. I thought it was just a costume pertaining to the particular world Mario was in. Either way, I still have no problem with this.
Anonymous
You have gotta be kidding.
Where I work is the cultural norm to abuse each other verbally from the moment you walk in ur shift.
Grow a bitta skin eh?
Get over it.
e
Stupid asses,,,
saying this game is racist.
SmileMan64
I’m Mexican. I like Mexican Mario.
Stop deciding for us what should offend us, idiots.
David Lozada
I like Mexican Mario too, but maybe we should tone down the name-calling, no?
CDbiggen
That is the most limp response ever given. All he said was “idiots”.
David Lozada
I didn’t mean to call him out specifically, more of a general statement for everyone. Sure we may not agree, but let’s keep it civil here.
Hyruledad
Seriosly? I’m a Mexican born Mexican and in no way does this offend me! It’s funny and I’m so looking forward to this. Problem is people just find the stupidest things to complain about.
Anonymous
Most people have nothing that’s of real value going on in their lives. So they go online finding something worthy to troll about.
David Lozada
Yup, in no way is Mexican Mario making me not want to buy the game. If fact, it’s making me want to do the exact opposite. Plus, Mario’s just having a good time. Leave the plumber alone.
Luis Cano
As a Mexican, I can confirm this 100%
Anonymous
Exactly! Well said
David Lozada
YESSSS!! Love this!!
Toolbox
I would say Mario himself is a racist Italian stereotype so he’s extra racist now. I will get on Twitter and be a tool about it so I can fit in. Or how about i ignore actual problems in the world and bitch about super Mario’s costumes. I’m cool cause I tweeted.
David Lozada
You’re my hero, Toolbox
Dfresh
Such a joke. Stop complaining. Poor you!!
David Lozada
As a Hispanic myself, I’m all for more representation of my ethnicity in video games. I seriously don’t understand how this is offensive in the least bit. Mario is celebrating the culture, more than anything.
Anonymous
People are such little bitches about that… what happened to this world.. seriously.
David Lozada
Third-wave feminism happened *sigh*
YOUDIEMOFO
People are dumb…..
David Lozada
“Confused” might be a better word to use. Or maybe just “uptight.”
Quee dave
There will always be a handful of idiots on Twitter outraged over something. Not really worth a story.
a random guy
Is this a joke???
David Lozada
Sadly, no.
Sean Rehbein
Culture is meant to be shared and enjoyed. There is no reason why cultural traditions should be segregated to their original ethnic group. Mario is not shown mocking Mexican culture, but celebrating it. Also I want am amiibo of those sugar skull guys.
David Lozada
Yup! And I’m all for more Hispanic representation in video games, just as long as it’s respectful (like this is).
Jacob Preston
These people are just creating drama for the point of creating drama. There is nothing wrong with the outfit
David Lozada
My thoughts exactly.