Naomi Osaka is being hit with backlash over something that is completely unintentional. The uproar is over her new media company, Hana Kuma.
The four-time Grand Slam tennis champ, who was born in Japan, told the New York Times Tuesday that Hana Kuma means “flower bear” in Japanese. However, Twitter users quickly pointed out it has a far more explicit meaning in Swahili, where it translates to “woman without a vagina.”
Many people in other countries urged to change the name of the company, which she founded in partnership with NBA legend LeBron James.
“Naomi Osaka has partnered with LeBron James to start a media company called Hana Kuma. Well, this ‘Hana Kuma’ name means something different in Swahili. I won’t say it,” Ugandan journalist Daniel Kibet tweeted.
“Did they do a global search on what the name means?” another asked. “She should have been well advised [that] it has a very vulgar meaning in Swahili which is spoken by many people.”
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A third blasted: “Amazing the lack of research. Lots of money but that brand won’t fly in Africa. Let it stay in America and Japan. It’s offensive. Do you even have a clue what it means? Get rid of your ego and change the name. God forgive your ignorance.”
Osaka hasn’t yet responded to the controversy, but she shared a cryptic tweet Wednesday night, writing: “Prayers for all my overthinkers. We be going through it.”
