Emma Chamberlain

At the 2022 Met Gala, Emma Chamberlain, a Cartier ambassador, wore a historic choker associated with the famous Patiala necklace commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. Some members of the South Asian diaspora condemned the use of the piece as a symbol of Indian heritage looted or displaced during the colonial period. The controversy resurfaced in 2025 when Diljit Dosanjh's team said it had been unable to borrow the piece for the Met Gala.

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Following the opening of a Chamberlain Coffee café in Los Angeles, the rounded shape of its takeaway cups attracted considerable comment. Creators accused the brand and media enthusiasm of presenting as new or 'cool' a format already common in some Asian bubble tea shops, calling it 'whitewashing' or 'Columbusization'.

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Reported by the press

Sanjay Sookul filed a lawsuit in New York against Chamberlain Coffee Inc., alleging that the company's website was not sufficiently accessible to people with disabilities. The proceedings are relevant to Chamberlain's profile because of her founding and public role in the brand.

Emma Chamberlain posted an Instagram photograph in which she pulled her eyes outwards. In the context of the 'fox eye' trend, many internet users condemned the gesture as reminiscent of racist gestures used against Asian people. She deleted the photograph and apologised.

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Admitted by the person

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Directly implicated