Because it's often used as a way to say "they're not American so racism isn't the same or they may not be aware of it". I can confirm that the watermelon stereotype is alive and well in Canada, where the game was developed.
-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
CTR Nitro Fueled includes a racially insensitive skin for Tawna [see staff post: discussion guidelines]
- Thread starter Twenty5Thousand
- Start date
I'm not American and I know about this and I have seen people from my country and other latin American countries use this to be offensive and make memes so it's not like they don't know.
Well first of all the stereotype did not originate from America.
Why do Americans etc. keep thinking that the rest of the world is supposed to know all that lol
Where I live, for example, there's absolutely no negative connotation between watermelons and dark skin. And while I know it's like that in the US and maybe some other places - stop shitting on people that don't. It's ridiculous.
There are other character skins that are based on food, and one more that's specifically watermelon themed for N. Oxide.
That one is called Safari Tawna and gives her a tiger-looking colour palette, with stripes and all.
OP
OP
Tawna wasn't playable in the original. Universal hated the character's design and forced Naughty Dog to either change it or stop using the character after Crash 1.
Tawna's only appearance, up until the trilogy, after that was in a DS party game.
Almost every skin in the game changes the character's base skin/fur tone or color at least a little (to the point where characters can often be green, blue, yellow purple or red). My guess here is that they just were going for a summer tan look, but the unfortunate implications are definitely still there.
Some of ya'll saying "Why would I know this?"
You're on the fucking internet. Use your fucking brain and google it.
You're on the fucking internet. Use your fucking brain and google it.
Same here, not american and I know of that gross racist stereotype. That no one caught that on the team is baffling imo.
Jesus Christ! "Watermelon"....really??? Couldn't choose any OTHER name?
Exactly...
Yes. Switch version also lacks fur which makes her look darker, but the fur is also a bit darker than normal on the big console versions.
Edit: Basically this
Okay so here's a higher quality image. I've blanked out my PSN Username, and that's the only edit I've done.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
Last edited:
Okay, but even if someone isn't aware of it, wouldn't we just explain it to them and correct the issue? I would think education is a good thing that can help us to work on the root issues.
Memes are very heavily influenced by US culture and stereotypes. That doesn't mean there's a watermelon racist sterotype everywhere in the world or that other people in those countries are aware of what it is. I know about it pretty much because I read you guys around gaming forums with a mainly U.S. citizen userbase, but I'm dead sure no one else at home knows about it.
Also, completely unrelated to pretty much everything else said here, cold Watermelon is godly. Those heinous stereotypes fall short compared to me.
You can't really see it in the pic due to the low res but the skin is literally themed after a watermelon as there are black seeds on her shirt.
Her clothing is pink and green and she has a watermelon on her shirt. How does it not make sense?
It's not an American-only thing, certainly not in modern day. The notions that 1) any non-US people are completely sheltered and oblivious to such racist stereotypes 2) there aren't any non-Americans personally hurt by such racism and 3) they cannot understand and educate themselves on the matter is also pretty insulting.
No, the character wasnt available to play and no ski s could be chosen in the original
Base off the design colors. It looks like it does.
God damn. That's terrible, no way they didn't know how bad this is.
On top of all the other issues point out with this It's not a strictly American thing? The next British Prime Minster has referred to watermelon smiles.
Okay so here's a higher quality image. I've blanked out my PSN Username, and that's the only edit I've done.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
I guess I'm just looking for clarification on if you think they overlooked this or if you think if it was a malicious joke. If they overlooked it then I'm not sure what the argument is. We all agree it was a very bad oversight that should have been caught. But if it was intentionally intending to be racist then we should be making a move to boycott the game (I haven't bought it yet and that would be enough to make me avoid it)
Her clothes directly invoke watermelon. She's wearing green pants and a pink shirt with black polka dots. Do you have a better name in mind?
Okay so here's a higher quality image. I've blanked out my PSN Username, and that's the only edit I've done.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
No, the selection icon is a lot darker than the actual in-game model's fur/skin. I noticed the same thing in the Switch version, and it's also similar with the Safari skin that you haven't unlocked yet.
It does. It just doesn't show in that bad quality picture but the shirt looks like a watermelon, seeds and all. It's hard to spot even on this video, but on some close ups you can catch it.
Edit: Skip the vid, better sources were provided.
Well this shows it clearly, thanks for the pic!Okay so here's a higher quality image. I've blanked out my PSN Username, and that's the only edit I've done.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
The combination of both really. And the racist stereotype of African peoples liking Watermelon.
7 seconds.
Yeah thats...unfortunate.
They need to patch that like...tomorrow.
I mean, this was probably just an unfortunate coincidence.
They still should change it though.
Too hard for some people. Lol
This is pretty bad and someone clearly knew what they were doing with this shit.
Sounds like a lot of comments are from people who haven't played the game. It's not nearly as bad in game, especially not on PS4/Xbox.
The Switch skin looks darker due to the lack of fur texture, but otherwise she looks almost the same just with different hair and clothing.
The Switch skin looks darker due to the lack of fur texture, but otherwise she looks almost the same just with different hair and clothing.
Honestly this just seems like a SUPER unfortunate coincidence. They could just change to name to Summer Tawnya or Fruit or whatever.Okay so here's a higher quality image. I've blanked out my PSN Username, and that's the only edit I've done.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
At the same time I can't really be too worked up over this, it's just a watermelon themed costume. On the list of shit thats wrong with black representation in video games this doesn't even rank on my radar.
She is a lot darker without HDR. Or maybe your HDR is calibrated differently. Regardless, they clearly wanted her to have darker fur than her default.Okay so here's a higher quality image. I've blanked out my PSN Username, and that's the only edit I've done.
Also, I don't know if this is HDR Messing with me or not, but the actual skin looks a fair bit different than the one in the portrait.
User banned (1 week): Dismissive Commentary Surrounding Racial Stereotypes and Antagonizing Other Users Over Multiple Posts in this Thread
This stereotype is 100% confined to american culture and its surroundings. Outside of america this is just not a thing. So if you aren't even aware of it, making the connection between black people and watermelon doesn't even cross your mind. The whole world doesn't revolve around the US.
Educate them and save this condescending attitude for something else.
She's redder, just like how the one beside her is bluer, and beside that is yellower. Notice the long hair... same color as the fur just longer.
It's not my responsibility to educate someone who is likely a grown fucking adult.
Like I said, they're on the internet and going to a thread on why something is racist.
They're taking the time to type "I don't get it because I'm not american"
They can take the time to get their dumbass to google or bing and put "Watermelon and racism"
This, I didn't know either but I guess that some ppl are ready to combat at any time, it's incredible...
Using a kart that makes her body a bit more visible, Switch screenshots:
And for good measure, Watermelon Oxide just as a point of comparison:
And for good measure, Watermelon Oxide just as a point of comparison:
Look it's really not hard to find this information. That wikipedia page posted earlier is literally the first result for "watermelon racially insensitive".
It's kind of there but they should have just gone all the way red.