Animal Crossing: New Horizons is considered a very conflict-free, easy-going game. However, this happy-go-lucky title became the center of a huge Twitter controversy in late 2020.Nintendo introduced afro puffs in its big winter update, which was much appreciated by the community, especially the Black players, since it meant they could finally truly express themselves in the game.rexy@JANEPRENTlSSi refuse to believe anyone GENUINELY thinks the new afro puffs in acnh are space buns. thats just a dumb excuse3:08 AM · Nov 22, 2020i refuse to believe anyone GENUINELY thinks the new afro puffs in acnh are space buns. thats just a dumb excuseHowever, when non-Black players used the same hairstyle for their character in the game and referred to it as space buns, it offended a huge section of the community and led to a major divide within the same about the apparent gatekeeping of "black hairstyles."The Animal Crossing: New Horizons space buns controversy was huge on Twitter in 2020The entire Animal Crossing: New Horizons space bun drama started when Twitter user @stardewleaf posted a picture of their in-game character sporting the hairstyle, which they referred to as "space buns."The tweet was deleted shortly after, since it received a lot of flak from the Black Animal Crossing community.The space buns tweet that went viral in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons community (Image via Bounding into Comics)Shortly after the tweet was posted, fans began to debate whether the hairstyle in question was space buns or afro puffs.Several Black members of the community explained why the hairstyle was clearly afro puffs, saying that while the hairstyle may resemble space buns, the textured nature of the buns made it clear that they were afro puffs, since white people do not have textured hair.Nesreen ☾@lilbittysherbLISTEN UP!! If the Afro buns Nintendo recently added to ACNH were space buns they would NOT be textured. They would look like the bun on the left. This isn’t “gatekeeping” a hairstyle. It’s as simple as, WHITE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TEXTURED HAIR. They are not the same.1:25 AM · Nov 22, 2020357100LISTEN UP!! If the Afro buns Nintendo recently added to ACNH were space buns they would NOT be textured. They would look like the bun on the left. This isn’t “gatekeeping” a hairstyle. It’s as simple as, WHITE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TEXTURED HAIR. They are not the same. https://t.co/fCkvrCSjq8Furthermore, players noted that previous iterations of Animal Crossing had explored the space buns hairstyle, and it was not the same as the hairstyle added to New Horizons.Ʒggy@r0sy_vix3nhey i don’t have acnh but do they have actual space buns already? because i see people using afro puffs a lotjust asking bc in pocket camp they have like space bun wigs n stuff like this (not my character)1:08 AM · Nov 21, 20205hey i don’t have acnh but do they have actual space buns already? because i see people using afro puffs a lotjust asking bc in pocket camp they have like space bun wigs n stuff like this (not my character) https://t.co/cDAzo5851eMany players took to Twitter to showcase the difference between afro puffs and space buns, both in real life and in the game.✨Allister (Comms Open!)✨@acnhsugarmamaThis is the difference between space buns and Afro buns. Clearly, one of them is textured and one has wrapped strands. Nintendo picked the darker skins on the trailer for the new hairstyles for a reason. #acnh #AnimalCrossingNewHorizions #animalcrosssing #animalcrossingupdate8:08 AM · Nov 21, 202024166This is the difference between space buns and Afro buns. Clearly, one of them is textured and one has wrapped strands. Nintendo picked the darker skins on the trailer for the new hairstyles for a reason.👏😌 #acnh #AnimalCrossingNewHorizions #animalcrosssing #animalcrossingupdate https://t.co/YEEM0pEZHA💤@chillbendingfor anyone who needs to know the difference between afro puffs and space buns, on and off the game10:22 AM · Nov 21, 20203452767for anyone who needs to know the difference between afro puffs and space buns, on and off the game https://t.co/euKoNwowgVThis brought forth a huge debate regarding cultural appropriation, with a section accusing Black members of the New Horizons community of gatekeeping hairstyles within the game. Several users, on the other hand, could not understand the outrage over a game.LSX.Chad@LilSamurai_XThe ACNH "Space Bun" "controversy" got me like12:15 PM · Nov 22, 202021The ACNH "Space Bun" "controversy" got me like https://t.co/bZ2R8HrbdPHowever, other members took the time to explain why misnaming the hairstyle was such a big deal for some players of the title. The main reason that emerged from the conversation was that Nintendo had added hairstyles like cornrows and afro puffs to enhance inclusivity in their latest title, but players of the game refused to acknowledge the same and continued misnaming them.Animal Crossing players were upset about the misnaming of black hairstyles (Image via @Siianide/Twitter)retired@lumloida lot of people are interpreting black ppl's apathy toward the acnh "space buns" discourse as the white person doing nothing wrong when in reality its more like we're used to white people doing whatever they want without thinking abt the ramifications also our people are dying rn8:38 AM · Nov 24, 20205a lot of people are interpreting black ppl's apathy toward the acnh "space buns" discourse as the white person doing nothing wrong when in reality its more like we're used to white people doing whatever they want without thinking abt the ramifications also our people are dying rnIrma 🍒✨GOWON SUPREMACY~@irma_blossomUs: YAY! Inclusive hairstyles for ACNH!Racists: Look at my space buns2:00 AM · Nov 22, 202016Us: YAY! Inclusive hairstyles for ACNH!Racists: ✨Look at my space buns✨The New Horizons space buns incident was just one example of the deep-rooted issues that people face every day. Nintendo's effort at inclusivity was a big step for many players in the New Horizons community, since they could finally depict themselves close to their real appearance. Naturally, they did not take it well when other players of the title tried to belittle their issues by misnaming the hairstyles.