In 2018, Bruno Mars was accused of cultural appropriation after writer and activist Seren Sensei called him out on social media. As CNN confirms, Mars' father is Puerto Rican and Jewish while his mother is Filipina. Describing him as a "cultural appropriator," Sensei argued, "He is not Black, at all, and he plays up his racial ambiguity to cross genres," in relation to how the "Uptown Funk" hit-maker typically blends elements of traditionally African American genres into his own music. Sensei opined, alongside several other cultural commentators, that Mars is unfairly profiting off the work of Black creators despite not being Black himself. Mars fired back at the accusations in an interview with "The Breakfast Club," reasoning, "You can't find an interview where I'm not talking about the entertainers that've come before me" (via BuzzFeed). 

As far as the superstar singer-songwriter is concerned, without James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson, he simply wouldn't be making music. "It's not a secret. We wear the inspiration on our sleeve. What is the point if us, as musicians, can't learn from the guys that've come before us? Why did they do it?" Mars stated emphatically, expressing how he hopes, further down the line, other artists take inspiration from him and put their own spin on his work. He did note, however, "There's real merit to what people are saying about Black entertainers not getting their flowers. I'm championing that, I'm with that."