yellowfacenoun [ U ]
uk/ˈjel.əʊ.feɪs//ˈjel.oʊ.feɪs/the practice of white actors changing their appearance with make-up in order to play East Asian characters in films, plays, etc.:
The comedian has been accused of yellowface by actress Margaret Cho for playing a Japanese designer in the Ab Fab movie.
the make-up that is used in this practice:
In the adaptation of "Cloud Atlas" Asian men are depicted by white actors in yellowface.