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

What, wait!!!

Surely being Italian American she is Latina!

Is that not 'blaccent' enough?

Or is there a new definition of Latina/o that excludes people of Latinate descent, Romance language etc?

She doesnt look black though?

Shes italian american, she looks italian american.

Also...it may horrify you given that I’m not white but as a teenager, I experimented with fake tan. It reacts with the melanin in our own bodies. I turned extremely dark with one application, probably because of my race and having more melanin (even though for an Asian/African person I’m very light skinned). I had no idea this would happen. I wasn’t “black fishing”.

I was at school with a large Sicilian community who would all visit family back home for the 6 week hols. They’d come back darker than my own Asian family. Because they’d naturally tan in the sun. Many Italians do.

In all honesty I think your posts say far more about you than anyone else. She’s never claimed to be African American.

She is a completely different shade to the one she was born with

So are a lot of people.

She should not be the same shade as Nicki Minaj who is black. I don’t get how people cannot see this

Ok. Is there a chart people can consult to see what colour they are allowed be? Or should everyone just check with you, since you seem to know what other women should look like?

I don't understand why some people are being so snarky to the OP. I agree - I thought Ariana Grande was mixed race black. It really surprises me to see those contrasting pics of her! I honestly would never have imagined her to be so pale-skinned.

Surely being Italian American she is Latina!

No. Italy is not a Latin American country.

@DumplingsAndStew

The video in that first link that shows the progression in her change of voice/accent is quite shocking.

I think the article (and OP) has some good points but I can't hear a "blaccent" evolving in those clips. She just sounds a bit older and uses more slang

@CandyLeBonBon I'm trying not to blind everybody with my milk bottle-white legs!

For which we are very grateful. Keep up the good work

Interesting article. I view that we are all on the spectrum with some fairer and some darker. We are all one race - the human race. However, I realise that I am too simplistic and many like to divide into white/black/mixed/asian and keep differences.

I wonder sometimes that there are so many things now segregated into different music awards/films/categories and all just highlight differences rather than realise we are all the same just difference tones of our skin.

One day hopefully we will all be the same and no segregation needed.

She is a completely different shade to the one she was born with

There are a lot of orange people around these days who probably weren't that colour when they were born.

I also don’t get why people are being snarky to me. I never said she was a horrible person.

I never said she was racist or anything. I said it’s problematic to me that a white person is appearing (at least to many people) as a POC.

I know what you mean op, it is a thing so I don’t know why people are being so rude, it was certainly a thing when I was in school for white people to try to act black

You're right OP, its a piss take, she takes the bits about being black that are to her advantage in the music industry but avoids the masses of disadvantages it would also bring.

‘Not be the same shade’. FFS!

She should not be the same shade as Nicki Minaj who is black. I don’t get how people cannot see this. Is she though?

She seems to have quite a different skin tone, entirely in keeping with her Italian ancestry!

Yes but orange people like those on towie or the US president are not mistaken for those of different races.

No one thinks Trump is Latin or Black or mixed. He is a white man, ditto many other celebs who use spray tans.

She is a completely different shade to the one she was born with

So is the ENTIRE cast of Strictly Come Dancing

She should not be the same shade as Nicki Minaj who is black. I don’t get how people cannot see this

Who says? You? Why do you get to decide what “shade” people should be? People tan in the sun. Skin reacts differently to fake tan.

I never in a million years thought she had any black roots. Maybe Latina but Italian isn’t a million miles away.

I think this is a horrible, racist post personally.

@GoJoe2020

Surely being Italian American she is Latina!

No. Italy is not a Latin American country.

So there has been! OK! I was just checking.

Literally thought she was mixed race and was shocked to find she isnt. Google Jordan Lipscombe. Was so shocked to find out she is white.

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?

@DanceThen

She doesnt look black though?

Shes italian american, she looks italian american.

Ahh, but what does black look like?

You see with all the history in the US, it is not a given that it is obvious what anyone's colour is.

Probably why we shouldn't go by colour.

I thought she was black so there you go

I think it's terrible that she is black fishing tbh

Is she white? I'm always fascinated by the concept of white/black and where the lines are drawn. It seems so arbitrary.

Ffs are white girls not allowed to use fake tan now??!!!!!