thank u, next
Before you read this : I wrote this and I am not editing it it is a rant and has no gramatical coherence.
Ariana Grande is a musical genius. I’ll give her that. She knows how to make music and she knows how to sell it. However, she’s falling down the same path a lot of privileged artists fall down. Using minorities and minority imagery for her own capitalistic gain.
I should preface this by saying I don’t really think Ariana Grande is blatantly racist but the effect her actions have remain the same. Her blatant tries at blackfishing are pretty obvious at this point. If you think they aren’t, let me give you some examples.
White artists have seldom used (read: snatched) imagery from people of color and used it to their benefit. They do this only when it is financially beneficial to them. Recently, we have seen this huge wave of a lot of pop music becoming basically, just hip-hop. The newest member of this appropriation club is everyone’s favorite bopper, Ariana Grande. Grande is possibly the most influential artist of our age. Not only is she one of the only artists to have two singles debut at #1 on the billboard 100 consecutively and have her whole album from one to ten on the trending list, she also is a big part of what pop culture has come to mean in 2018. No matter how oblivious you are, thank u, next is a phrase that has even crawled under the rock you are living under. Grande is big (heh.) There is no denying that. However, she is also extremely problematic.
In the recent years a lot of fans have noticed a trend in Grande’s skin tan. It keeps getting darker and darker. Below you can see her being photographed next to Nicki Minaj, someone of Trinidadian and African American heritage, during a performance.
What is baffling is how they are the same skin tone. This has become so apparent that a lot of people believe that Ariana Grande is a person of color! Grande’s heritage comes from Italy, her skin tone in a lot of her older photos, especially from her days from the nickelodeon TV show, Victorious, are very white.
However, I do acknowledge that some people tan easily, as my white friends have pointed out when I brought up this argument. And although I do not think her skin can tan to a point where her melanin level chemically changes, I have another issue with her. Her use of African American imagery in her music videos.
I am not even getting into how her music is basically r&b masquerading as pop (not that white artists can’t make R&B music.) However, just her music videos give the “rachet” vibe (Rachet when African American artists do it and cool when Grande does it.) Which when used by a black or latino woman is criticized. But it’s alright, it’s just Ariana. She’s just rapping about how her systematic privilege and her talent got her to a level where she can buy rings for all of her b*tches. She had even reposted an Instagram quote that said, “White women talking about weaves is how we’re gonna solve racism.” Weaves have a huge significance in African American culture. They are also a big part of her newest single, 7 rings, but her fans and she might say that’s a reference to her ponytail and how she must keep it long with extensions.
Grande’s appropriation is dangerous. It is the sort that she doesn’t fully realize. It is the type where she can get away with certain imagery and be called cute, fun and empowering but if artists who were POC used it, they would be reprimanded. She is using a sort of costume of a person of color because it is convenient. Because it gets her views. Because it gets her more money. Who knows, maybe tomorrow when it’s not cool to be black anymore, Grande might just say thank u, next to her fake tan.
Ariana’s latest music video uses another minority to create hype. Queer people. In her latest “bop” break up with your girlfriend I’m bored, there’s a woman who looks vaguely like her. The video starts at a party where this girl (played by Ariel Yasmine) and her boyfriend (played by Charles Melton) enter and start dancing. The girl calls Ariana to dance with her and here we witness a weird threesome grinding session. After this the video escalates with a lot of chemistry being built up between Melton and Grande. However, the video ends with Ariana kissing the girl. The shocking twist. The shock of queerness. The identities of people being used as a shock.
This was supposedly supposed to signify Ariana loving herself because the girl looks so similar. However, there are better ways to do that. Taylor swift and you belong with me for example.
Do you think the media won’t sensationalize this queer instance for Grande? Grande knew the implications this shot would have, she knew some people will say she’s questioning her sexuality and she knew that will get her more attention.
No matter the intention queer baiting is still queer baiting. It’s having queer shades in your content and not explicitly stating it so queer audiences watch it. The message doesn’t matter if queer baiting is being done because it’s supposed to be hidden.
Ariana isn’t homophobic either. Far from it. She supports and loves the LGBTQ+ community as shown by her sweet letter a few years ago. I believe her in this.
However, what Grande is, is privileged. She’s privileged enough to use identities for her capitalist gain and not be called out for it.
But I am done. I am done watching this woman using minorities for her gain and not be reprimanded for her actions. It’s not too late, she can easily fix her ways. She’s a great musician, now maybe all she needs is to be a little more aware.
Ya so Ariana, fix your ways because NASA is really good and I want to be able to support you without thinking about how I am betraying my communities.
Update : Since this was written Grande has come out with comments about sexuality being fluid. A lot of people believe that this is her attempt at queer baiting people again. However, I personally don’t think we can criticise her because sexuality is fluid and she may have realised that she’s queer after she said she was straight.
