Rita Ora Is Accused Of ‘Blackfishing’ After Internet Learns She Is Not Black
Image via Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com
Rita Ora has been accused of “blackfishing” after Twitter users became aware of her Albanian roots.
Blackfishing is a term used to describe a person who seemingly acts outside of their own race with makeup and hairstyles associated with Black culture.
The tweet that sparked the entire debate has over 100,000 likes, showing images of Ora donning “appropriating” hairstyles like box braids and an afro. “Finding out Rita Ora isn’t black at all and both of her parents are white Albanians is so trippy. The girl’s been blackfishing,” the tweet read.
Ora’s family is from Kosovo, whose population is made up of Albanian and Serbian people.
In 2016, she made an appearance on the Wendy Williams’ show, where the host said, “I thought you were half-black and half-white.” Ora replied, “Everybody usually does. I might as well be. But no, I’m Albanian.”
Social media users were surprised to learn about Ora’s ethnicity, with one user tweeting, “I just found out that Rita Ora isn’t black, like at all. She’s literally the same ethnicity as Dua Lipa.”
Ora has been seen wearing her hair in cornrows and afros. British television writer Camilla Blackett tweeted that Ora “was absolutely selling herself as black in the UK for years,” while culture critic Cate Young chimed in saying that Ora “was absolutely doing Rihanna cosplay for a couple years there.”
She knew she could pass for mixed/light skin and went with it, so did her management. They know what they’re doing. Ariana and so many others do this shit. Call everybody tf out, this shit is OLD.
— sarah ☁️ (@groovygirlll) August 9, 2020
Idk her story over here but she was absolutely selling herself as black in the UK for YEARS.
— Camilla Blackett (@camillard) August 9, 2020
She was absolutely doing Rihanna cosplay for a couple years there.
— 🎓Cate Young (@battymamzelle) August 9, 2020
finding out rita ora isn’t black at all and both of her parents are white albanians is so trippy. the girls BEEN blackfishing pic.twitter.com/rGDLUh1obe
— ❂ (@slitmyclitt) August 9, 2020
like the girl isn’t black in the slightest this is kinda freaking me out. yt women really slip into black personas so easily
— ❂ (@slitmyclitt) August 9, 2020
I just found out that Rita Ora isn’t black... like at ALL. She’s literally the same ethnicity as Dua Lipa. pic.twitter.com/nxKcDvaDzd
— Miss Gworl (@ukilledmyvibe) August 9, 2020
[via Insider, opening image via Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com]
