The Genshin Impact cultural appropriation and whitewashing controversy refers to the recurring backlash against developer HoYoverse for its depiction of characters in regions inspired by real-world cultures, specifically Sumeru and Natlan. Critics argue that despite these regions drawing heavy inspiration from Southwest Asia, North Africa, and Indigenous Latin American cultures, the playable characters are predominantly light-skinned, leading to widespread accusations of 'whitewashing.' The controversy frequently trends on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok through hashtags like #BoycottGenshin and #StopWhitewashingInGenshin. Memes related to this topic often highlight the discrepancy between historical source material and in-game designs, using humor and satire to push for more diverse representation within the global gacha gaming community.