Music

What is ‘blackfishing’ and why has Rita Ora been accused of it?


What does blackfishing mean? (Pictures: @ritaora)

Rita Ora has been accused of blackfishing in a viral tweet, with the singer’s Albanian heritige apparently a surprise for many.

The tweet reads: ‘finding out rita ora isn’t black at all and both of her parents are white albanians is so trippy. the girls BEEN blackfishing’ [sic].

It’s got nearly 111,000 likes so far, so seemingly there are more than a few people who are shaken by the revelation that the singer is ethnically white.

So what exactly is blackfishing and why has Rita been accused of doing it? Here’s what you need to know…

What is ‘blackfishing’?

Blackfishing is the term used to describe when someone manipulates their appearance to look like a different race.

More subtle than overt brown or blackface, blackfishing sees people capitalising on their ability to look racially ambigous and/or Black.

It’s a controversial topic because, while blackfishers don’t usually act with malice, blackfishing is part of a much larger cultural problem that sees non-Black people benefiting from their appropriation of Black culture and stereotypically Black features while actual Black people continue to be discriminated against and criticised for the same things.

Why has Rita Ora been accused of blackfishing?

The singer has been accused of blackfishing in the wake of the viral tweet which reminded everyone that Rita’s parents are ethnically white Albanians.

Rita speaks often about her heritage and the fact that she and her family ended up in England after they fled persecution following the disintegration of Yugoslavia.

However, she has also said in the past that she thinks she’s benefited from the fact that she has a racially ambiguous look, saying on the Breakfast Club radio show: ‘A lot of people think that [I have Black heritage] but I like that,’ adding: ‘It gets me places.’

She also told Wendy Williams during an interview in 2016 that she ‘might as well be’ Black.

(Picture: @ritaora)

On top of that, Rita has often posed for pictures wearing various Black and brown hairstyles such as afros and braids and with laid edges – aka her baby hair slicked on to her face.

Rita isn’t the only celebrity to face blackfishing accusations. For example, Kim Kardashian has been called out in the past for the contrast in colour between her hand and her face.

MORE: Multi-millionaire singer Joss Stone dubbed ‘patronising idiot’ as she irritates people with her tips for happiness

MORE: Selena Gomez confirms Blackpink collaboration and we’re ready for it

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Share your views in the comments below.





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.