Nintendo Accused Of Cultural Appropriation With Odyssey

The latest Super Mario game is being accused of culturally appropriating the Mexican culture, according to a number of users on social media.

Nintendo Accused Of Cultural Appropriation With Mario Odyssey
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.

Mario's Mexican outfit in Super Mario Odyssey
Examples of users calling out Nintendo can be found below:

Super Mario Odyssey Racism 1
Super Mario Odyssey Racism 2
Super Mario Odyssey Racism 3
What do you think of Mario's outfit? Is it really the product of cultural appropriation? Let us know in the comments below.

57 Comments

  1. Avatar photo

    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?????

    Reply
  2. Avatar photo

    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

    Reply
  3. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
  4. Avatar photo

    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!!

     

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  5. Avatar photo

    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!

    Reply
  6. Avatar photo

    Everybody’s trolling, nobody thinks Mario could be racist in a million years.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      I hope so!

      Reply
  7. Avatar photo

    I love how he is in front of a wall too lol!

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Wow, totally unintentional o_o

      Reply
  8. Avatar photo

    Mario or Nintendo are not racist

    Reply
  9. Avatar photo

    source from tumblr

     

    i think i seen enough

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      My source says Twitter…

      Reply
  10. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Well said my friend

      Reply
      • Avatar photo

        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

  11. Avatar photo

    Shut up.

    Reply
  12. Avatar photo

    Excelent out fit. Its a mario game dont cangw the normal mario ways cause the new generation is more emotion then the old!

    Reply
  13. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
  14. Avatar photo

    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?

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Ikr!? It gets worse as the years pass. Asian carp is a rasist name! It is not rasist, it just comes from Asia…

      Reply
  15. Avatar photo

    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?!!!!

    Reply
  16. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      There are other “stereo types” in this game too. Where was the uproar when this launched?

      Reply
      • Avatar photo

        We live in a different world with a wide range of different opinions. Everyone has a voice now, it seems.

    • Avatar photo

      Again, super cool reference that I never noticed before. Good job finding this!

      Reply
  17. Avatar photo

    People whining about this kinda bullshit need to get shot in the back of the head cause their stupidity is like a disease nowadays.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Not cool dude…

      Reply
  18. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
  19. Avatar photo

    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!

     

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      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.

      Reply
  20. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
  21. Avatar photo

    Stupid asses,,,

     

     

    saying this game is racist.

    Reply
  22. Avatar photo

    I’m Mexican. I like Mexican Mario.

     

     

    Stop deciding for us what should offend us, idiots.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      I like Mexican Mario too, but maybe we should tone down the name-calling, no?

      Reply
      • Avatar photo

        That is the most limp response ever given. All he said was “idiots”.

      • Avatar photo

        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.

  23. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Most people have nothing that’s of real value going on in their lives. So they go online finding something worthy to troll about.

      Reply
    • Avatar photo

      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.

      Reply
  24. Avatar photo

    As a Mexican, I can confirm this 100%

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Exactly! Well said

      Reply
    • Avatar photo

      YESSSS!! Love this!!

      Reply
  25. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      You’re my hero, Toolbox

      Reply
  26. Avatar photo

    Such a joke. Stop complaining. Poor you!!

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      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.

      Reply
  27. Avatar photo

    People are such little bitches about that… what happened to this world.. seriously.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Third-wave feminism happened *sigh*

      Reply
  28. Avatar photo

    People are dumb…..

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      “Confused” might be a better word to use. Or maybe just “uptight.”

      Reply
  29. Avatar photo

    There will always be a handful of idiots on Twitter outraged over something. Not really worth a story.

    Reply
  30. Avatar photo

    Is this a joke???

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Sadly, no.

      Reply
  31. Avatar photo

    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.

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      Yup! And I’m all for more Hispanic representation in video games, just as long as it’s respectful (like this is).

      Reply
  32. Avatar photo

    These people are just creating drama for the point of creating drama. There is nothing wrong with the outfit

    Reply
    • Avatar photo

      My thoughts exactly.

      Reply

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