What Happened to Black Yoshi? The Full Story
The short answer: Black Yoshi, a controversial character featured in Logan Paul’s SuperMarioLogan (SML) YouTube series, was effectively retired and replaced with a new character named Duggie in February 2021. This change was a direct result of Nintendo issuing a cease and desist letter to Logan Paul regarding the unauthorized use of their intellectual property, specifically Mario characters, in his videos. Black Yoshi, in particular, drew criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and Nintendo’s action forced a significant shift in SML’s content.
The Rise and Controversy of Black Yoshi
Black Yoshi originated as a Yoshi plush toy modified to resemble a stereotypical caricature. He quickly became a staple character in the SML universe, known for his violent tendencies, penchant for committing crimes, perceived low intelligence, and stereotypical mannerisms associated with African Americans. These included a fondness for fried chicken, watermelon, grape Kool-Aid, and speaking in Ebonics.
The character’s portrayal sparked significant debate and criticism. Many viewers found the depiction to be deeply offensive and racist, arguing that it reinforced harmful stereotypes and contributed to the perpetuation of negative portrayals of Black individuals. While some defended the character as harmless humor, the prevailing sentiment leaned towards condemnation.
Nintendo’s Intervention and the Birth of Duggie
The controversy surrounding Black Yoshi eventually reached Nintendo’s attention. Protecting their brand and intellectual property is a paramount concern for Nintendo, and the character’s portrayal clashed starkly with their family-friendly image. This led to Nintendo issuing a cease and desist letter, demanding that Logan Paul cease using Nintendo characters in his videos.
Faced with potential legal action, Logan Paul opted to comply with Nintendo’s demands. Rather than discontinue the SML series altogether, he chose to rework the problematic character. This resulted in the creation of Duggie, a new character intended to replace Black Yoshi.
Duggie retains some visual similarities to Black Yoshi, but his personality and mannerisms were significantly altered. The stereotypical elements that defined Black Yoshi were removed, and Duggie was presented as a more neutral and less offensive character. The introduction of Duggie marked a deliberate attempt by Logan Paul to address the criticisms levelled against Black Yoshi and to continue the SML series without infringing on Nintendo’s intellectual property rights.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The transition from Black Yoshi to Duggie wasn’t seamless. Many long-time viewers expressed disappointment, arguing that Duggie lacked the comedic appeal of his predecessor. However, the change was widely seen as a necessary step towards addressing the problematic aspects of the SML series and demonstrating a degree of responsibility regarding potentially harmful stereotypes.
The Black Yoshi controversy serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of using caricatures and stereotypes in entertainment. It highlights the importance of considering the impact of creative content on audiences and the responsibility creators have to avoid perpetuating harmful representations. This situation also showcases Nintendo’s seriousness about protecting their intellectual property, and how companies need to respect copyright and trademark laws.
The case study of Black Yoshi and SML can be particularly interesting for the Games Learning Society, as it brings up the topic of learning social concepts through play. You can find more on this topic at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Black Yoshi
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Black Yoshi, providing further context and information:
1. Was Black Yoshi officially removed from SML?
Yes, Black Yoshi was effectively removed from the SML series in February 2021. He was replaced by the character Duggie.
2. Why was Black Yoshi removed?
Black Yoshi was removed due to a cease and desist letter from Nintendo, which cited the unauthorized use of their intellectual property. The character’s controversial portrayal, perceived as perpetuating harmful stereotypes, also contributed to the decision.
3. Who replaced Black Yoshi in SML?
The character Duggie replaced Black Yoshi in the SML series.
4. Is Duggie the same character as Black Yoshi?
No, while Duggie shares some visual similarities with Black Yoshi, his personality and mannerisms are significantly different. The stereotypical elements that defined Black Yoshi were removed to create a less offensive character.
5. What stereotypes did Black Yoshi embody?
Black Yoshi was criticized for embodying stereotypes associated with African Americans, including a fondness for fried chicken, watermelon, grape Kool-Aid, and speaking in Ebonics. He was often portrayed as unintelligent, violent, and prone to criminal behaviour.
6. Did Logan Paul apologize for the Black Yoshi character?
While Logan Paul didn’t issue a formal apology specifically for the Black Yoshi character, the decision to replace him with Duggie can be interpreted as an acknowledgement of the character’s problematic nature and a step towards addressing the criticism.
7. What is Nintendo’s stance on fan-made content featuring their characters?
Nintendo generally discourages the commercial use of their intellectual property without their explicit permission. They have taken legal action against fan-made content that infringes on their copyrights and trademarks.
8. Does Black Yoshi appear in any other media?
Black Yoshi was primarily a character in the SML YouTube series and did not appear in any official Nintendo games or other media.
9. Are there any other controversial characters in the SML series?
The SML series has faced criticism for other characters and content that some viewers have found offensive or problematic. The Black Yoshi controversy is one of the most notable examples.
10. What are Ebonics?
Ebonics, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), is a dialect of American English spoken primarily by African Americans. It has its own unique grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
11. Can Yoshis eat anything?
According to Yoshi lore, Black Yoshis and White Yoshis are the only Yoshis in Yoshi’s Story that enjoy all the fruit, even the red Peppers. In addition, Black Yoshis can eat other things that the rest can’t, such as Black Shy Guys.
12. What other Yoshi colors are there?
There are many colors of Yoshi, including green, red, blue, yellow, pink, purple, white, black, brown, and orange. Each color can sometimes indicate different abilities in the games.
13. What is the origin of Yoshi?
Yoshi first appeared in Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1990. He has since become a beloved and iconic character in the Mario franchise.
14. Are Yoshis dinosaurs or dragons?
Yoshi is generally classified as a dinosaur. While he possesses some dragon-like features, his overall design and characteristics align more closely with dinosaurs.
15. What is the Games Learning Society?
The Games Learning Society is an organization dedicated to promoting the use of games in education and learning. They conduct research, develop educational games, and advocate for the integration of games into the curriculum. You can learn more at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.