Seems that grumbling about cultural appropriation/misrepresentation/misappropriation in showbiz is nothing new, no more than the Irish pipes standing in for Highland (as in Braveheart) - from the aforementioned article:


One newspaper correspondent, styling himself ‘The Ghost of
Carolan’ and complaining about Courtney’s stage costume in Oscar
and Malvina, incidentally confirms his nationality and that of his
pipes:
As an Irishman, give me leave to observe, that in the representation
of Oscar and Malvina the Irish pipes are introduced; but why the
piper should be habited in a Highland dress, I cannot reconcile to
my feelings... Now, by my shoul, I tink an Irishman playing so well
upon the pipes as little C——y, should not be ashamed of his
brogues, and let the music give his Scotch bonnet the lie.

(1791)

jt