Nick Cannon Defends His Whiteface Act: ‘The Mission Was to Have Fun’

Nick Cannon has a new album out called White People Party Music, so naturally, he’s promoting it with “whiteface,” and defended himself against criticism for said whiteface on Good Morning America Monday, explaining that “the mission was to have fun” and there is no comparing whiteface to blackface.

Cannon’s had some defenders, but quite a number of detractors, and he told George Stephanopoulos this morning, “I knew it would spark some controversy, but I feel like it’s a conversation that’s needed.” He found the use of the term “whiteface” ridiculous to begin with and completely dismissed the idea it in any way is the same as blackface.

“I know blackface was a term that was created in 1869 to describe offensive minstrel shows. Whiteface, if you look it up and Google it, is a ski slope in upstate New York… I was doing a character impression. Blackface is about oppression.”

Stephanopoulos read a viewer’s question about how people might react if, say, Eminem titled one of his albums Black People Rapper Music. Cannon just rolled his eyes and said, “People are so sensitive.”

You can watch the video below, via ABC:

ABC US News | ABC Business News

[h/t THR]
[photo via Nick Cannon]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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