To be shocked Ariana Grande is White

[IslandGyal]

I’ve just discovered the new trend of ‘blackfishing’ whereby white celebrities and models try and appear racially ambiguous.

I think it’s more common in the states. However one of the most common examples is Ariana Grande who seems to have almost changed races.

See the picture in this article: medium.com/@abbs664/ariana-grande-blackfishing-d42a8cb726ea

Is anyone else kinda shocked that Grande is a white Italian.

I always assumed she was Latin American or mixed race black. It’s also quite problematic that she appears to tone down her look when it suits by appearing lighter on vogue.

Aibu

No one would think that, wills

As I've said before look at her parents. She's has exactly the same skin tone. She's not pretending to be anything. Ffs she's allowed a tan! I have olive skin that goes dark when tanned. No one batted an eyelid when I was younger. My Dc have the same skin, my Ds is particularly dark olive skinned and gets loads grief about it in school. He's white but some people just won't have it like they have to stamp a label on him to suit themselves.

Yea I read the same article. Who knows what legal processes are or are not in place for any allegations.

Thinking allowed - would people use it against her though to emphasise her white privilege?

Aside from the odd few, some of those on the link are Italian descendent. They are tanned (natural/sun). Nothing they can do about their natural features.

I do agree with Mustardmitt and overtherainbow that the current trend is problematic in lots of ways. And I can see how it would be very annoying to black women who have experienced prejudice to see aspects of their look/style adopted by women who havent experienced that prejudice in order to look pretty/sexy. Its a symptom of something quite problematic and complicated. However (except in extreme cases such as that Krug woman) I dont think its fair to blame Ariana Grande or most woman as individuals (I am not saying that those posters were doing that).
What celebrities like her (and normal women) are doing is altering their looks to fit beauty standards currently deemed as attractive because looking pretty and young is the rent women are expected to pay for existing. That is really wrong. Its wrong if a woman like Ariana wearing fake tan is seen as more attractive than a woman with naturally dark skin and more sterotypically "african" features. It is wrong if a black woman with naturally light skin and who has maybe been pressured into a nose job is seen as more attractive than a black woman with darker skin and a wider nose. It is wrong if a woman who is 20 years old is seen as more attractive than a thirty year old, or if a thirty year old with botox is expected to get botox. In none of those cases is blaming the individual women fair, or likely to be effective at all. As long as franly unobtainable beauty standards exist and are the basis on which women are judged women will do their best to meet them. At the moment that is:
Look like a teenager even if you are thirty; have "desirable" features associated with black women but do not be black; have a tiny waist but large boobs and bum; be ridiculously thin but dont be fussy with your food, men dont like women who pick at food; Be a virgin but also be as sexually adventurous as a porn star; look sexy, but don't be slutty; look "natural" but also have perfect groomed skin, teeth, nails, eyelashes and hair etc etc. Its all bullshit.

I have never seen Ariana Grande as anything other than white - but I didn’t know if Italian or Spanish heritage with her name. Look at her eyes , they are really dark, to go with her olive skin.

To add, Ariana Grande has come fairly close to meeting that impossible ideal, at least her public image has. That is annoying, but I don't think its exactly fair to blame her for that (although of course she has agency and choice).

Although a quick google of stak academy (creates playlist) and AG could explain why she was on the playlist

@MustardMitt I think you hold the concept of “racial ambiguity” too highly. Most white people that have fillers or fake tan do not want to look black. At all. Black-fishing does exist but I think you’re lumping a lot of people into that group when in reality it’s only a minority of people that are trying to be black like Emma Hallberg.

Let’s be honest, to (British) white people, “obviously Caucasian” people are the beauty aesthetic standard. They don’t care for racial ambiguity. That’s a way to “other” people. Racial ambiguity, frankly, tends to be revered by black people more. My observations are based on British culture though.

@throwaway10000 why are you making odd assumptions about what I think about people that have fillers or tans? There's a world of difference between having fillers and tans and the one you pointed out. It doesn't make it less bad because it's not 'most' people . Especially when they are considered social media influencers. I don't think I made any comment about how many people are doing it though?

@Afromeg

And the list off the top of your head really doesn't help. In fact, it partly confirms what was said seeing as they're mixed. Next time, have a think first.

And what do you mean "fine featured"? Again, think how things come across

'Think about you come across'

I suggest you take your own advice, laying into me for what I've said is not a good look. Very aggressive.

@Stripesnomore

I don’t see why Ingrid saying fine featured is more offensive than Afromeg saying delicate. They are both referring to a previous poster.

Thank you, at least some of us are reading all the posts comprehensively!

Maybe if she just said she WAS black as she identified as black- then we would have to agree to that and nod along... no need to blackfish at all...

@user1471565182

Why are people pretending they have never heard the AAVE accent or noticed black culture at all in the US? is the some of that horseshit 'I DONT SEE COLOUR' schtick?

Because its an uncomfortable fact for them so they feign outrage

Ps I mean it's an uncomfortable thing that white people find offensive on black people's behalf so they feign ignorance. It's not healthy to deny cultural differences

Ingridla, Afromeg wasn't being aggressive at all (nice try with that one )

Ah thanks. Now I'm "aggressive". I do stand by my saying 'think about how you throw words so carelessly about and how they come across'. Now, I'm not surprised. I'm sure you meant something else by this too.

Also, I'm not sure you read what I wrote. You were so quick to try and point out my mistake, what would have been a little typo/omission/autocorrect on my part if it was there but it actually wasn't. Please read it again - COMPREHENSIVELY. "Think how things come across" is what I wrote. Thanks.

By the way, when you read further down, you can understand why I wrote that part but I'm not holding my breath.

I bid you good day because I've already moved on from this.

@Nackajory

Who cares what race she is? Does it affect her singing? I think she is a positive role model for young girls after her response to the Manchester Arena Attack. Why are you concerned with what race she is?

Agree with this. Why can't people just accept individuals for who they are? ? ?

Stop with the stupid categorising, and just be. Try and be nicer & enjoy life.

@LilacPebbles

Ingridla, Afromeg wasn't being aggressive at all (nice try with that one )

Are you on here to pick fights or actually comment on the topic in question

Actually do us all a favour and don't answer.

@LilacPebbles

Ingridla, Afromeg wasn't being aggressive at all (nice try with that one )

Thanks Lilac. "Very aggressive" is a quick and easy stone to throw. It tells you much about the person. My spidey senses were going off already so not surprised.

Someone speaking up for you is great but for others, it's to pick a fight? Or have you been in a fight with more than one person already? How lovely.

What I'm taking away from this thread is that people claim to remember her from Victorious but claim it was on Disney channel. Its a Nickelodeon show..

Stick to the topic. You sound like a bully.

Are people shocked that the binary declination of black or white is not how real people look?

In fact skin tones vary wildly even across the continent of Europe. I think ‘white’ has become a lazy catch all for European and actually erases the diversity of cultures of European people.

This is such an America-centric conversation. ‘White European’ might describe a fairly uniform culture in the states but covers about 25 countries with entirely different languages/cultures/ values.

Ditto the idea there is one homogeneous thing that is ‘black culture’. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche has an amazing TED talk about just this.

😃😃😃 Oh dear. I see you're the sort to throw stones and hide your hands, cry foul and play the victim.

Cba

Are you STILL coming at me because you don't know what fine features means! Good idea, go.