Rita Ora accused of 'blackfishing' after fans shocked to realise both her parents are white

“Blackfishing” is used to describe the process by which (often) white people use makeup, cosmetic procedures and more to paint themselves as racially ambiguous, often as a way to make themselves look more “edgy” or for a perceived level of clout. Other people who have been called out for similar behaviour include Kim Kardashian (and a lot of) the rest of her family, as well as Ariana Grande.

While some elements of “blackfishing” seem to be part of a larger trend towards racial ambiguity as opposed to specifically trying to seem “Black”, the overall issue is that of someone trying to dress up as another ethnicity.

People on Twitter were newly surprised that Ora is not Black or mixed race, but rather of white Albanian heritage. finding out rita ora isn’t black at all and both of her parents are white albanians is so trippy. the girls BEEN blackfishing.

— ❂ (@slitmyclitt)August 9, 2020Wait hol on hold on... I thought she was black for the longest time 😃

— Carressa Hatley (@CarressaHatley)August 9, 2020rita ora not being black .... so she’s been blackfishing and culture appropriating this whole time 

— dicks up for dabin (@taehyungmuslim)August 9, 2020People pointed out that she’s previously posted images of herself wearing braids as well as an afro, which as a white person inevitably constitutes cultural appropriation.

Others said that they were surprised that she’s not biracial or mixed race.

I don’t know who needs to hear this but... throwing on an afro and some braids does not make you black. If black people collectively stopped one drop ruling biracials and mixed people into blackness, this wouldn’t even be a discussion 

— ♡ Wynnie ♡ (@1Misskeesha)August 9, 2020that’s what’s weirding me out like i didn’t think she was fully black but mixed at least💀

— ❂ (@slitmyclitt)August 9, 2020Some suggested that Ora leaned into her ethnic ambiguity on purpose.

She was absolutely doing Rihanna cosplay for a couple years there.

— 🎓Cate Young (@battymamzelle)August 9, 2020I wouldn’t say blackfishin cause she’s always had those “ethnic” features. It’s just people compared her to Rihanna so much

— 𝒯 (@trinibratzdoll)August 9, 2020However, other people pointed out that Ora herself has never claimed she is Black, and that they were surprised other people felt that way.

Who thought Rita Ora was black? pic.twitter.com/uUx0Bv82JT

— JustDooDirty (@justdoodirty2)August 9, 2020i thought we all knew rita ora wasnt black.. 

— ًkeia is dreaming of yeosang zzz (@8tzki)August 9, 2020Baby no one thought Rita Ora was black........

— Ira Madison III (@ira)August 9, 2020This isn’t the first time that a reaction on social media has occured. For months at least, people have been posting on social media about their surprise that Ora isn’t mixed race – such as this Reddit thread from February.

It’s worth pointing out that Ora has been vocal about her Albanian identity for years, often discussing the fact that her parents had to flee persecution in the Balkans in the 90s, and has previously posted photos of herself and her family on social media.

She’s also been outspoken about the difficulties that come with starting a new life as a refugee in the UK, where her parents moved in the 1990s.

Some people also pointed out that Ora has even gone on talk shows and clarified that she is fully Albanian.

Y’all need to calm down, Rita Ora told y’all two years ago, she wasn’t black. YALL said she was black... not her. 

— Nicole Beckford (@NicoleBeckfor14)August 9, 2020I NeVEr ThoUghT rITa OrA WaS bLacK.

Okay good for you. Someone us were bamboozled. And you can see why.. 

— BLACKLIVESMATTER (@BlahblahBeaa)August 9, 2020In an article from 2013, in The New York Times, Ora says that she is aware she looks “ethnically ambiguous”, although she doesn’t clarify whether she has emphasised these features at the behest of her label (Roc Nation, owned by Jay-Z) or her own decisions.

But, even if Ora didn’t intend to blackfish, the fact that she’s previously posed fo photos in braids and an afro makes it understandable that some people might assume that she was biracial.

Reference: Indy 100: Sanjana Varghese 11 hrs ago: 10th August 2020