Fans of Ariana Grande have criticized her new Vogue cover, as they say the star is almost unrecognizable in the photograph.
The 26-year-old Italian-American singer, who is from Boca Raton, Florida, and has Sicilian and Abruzzese roots, appeared on the August 2019 cover of the publication, donning a more toned-down look than her typical knee-high boots and high-swinging ponytail.
However, some fans of the pop star have been left confused by the photograph, as they point out that the star’s complexion looks darker than her natural skin tone in the image.
Criticism: Fans of Ariana Grande have criticized her Vogue cover, as they say the star’s skin-tone looks significantly darker in the photograph than her natural complexion
Difference: Social media users have pointed out the fact that the singer (seen in 2018), who has Sicilian and Abruzzese roots, ‘doesn’t even look like herself’ in the image
Yikes: Some users have asked ‘when did she become black?’ while others have said that her darker skin tone is a result of Photoshop
Vogue unveiled the cover image on Instagram on Tuesday, July 9, where it has already garnered almost 400,000 likes.
The image sees the 26-year-old, who headlined the Coachella festival earlier this year, posing alongside her dog, Toulouse, as she sits comfortably on what looks like a tropical beach.
Standing up: However, many of her fans have defended Ariana (pictured as a teenager), as they explained that her Italian roots mean that she would tan easily
She is pictured wearing a large Eric Javits fedora hat, that takes up the majority of the shot, and a simple black Dior Fall 2019 that exposes her decolletage.
Her makeup seems to have been kept to a minimum – as she appears to be sporting a natural look. However, despite many social media users praising Ariana’s appearance on the cover, hundreds of fans have slammed the image.
Many fans of the star have said that Ariana’s skin tone appears darker than usual in the photo.
One user commented on the photo, saying: ‘Is she black now?’ Another asked ‘when did she become black?’, while a third Instagram user said: ‘Why is she brown?’
‘Noooo, sorry this is not ok,’ another user wrote. ‘Ari does not look like this at all.’
Another user said they were ‘tired of’ Photoshop, as they claimed that Ariana’s skin-tone has been adjusted in the image.
Others said the star needs to ‘chill’ with tanning. ‘Why tf does she look like a woman of color tho? Chill with the tanning Ari,’ one user commented on the photo.
Meanwhile, another said they thought the star had ‘surgery’ to achieve a different look, as they said: ‘All I see is plastic surgery.’
Defense: Many users have said that her darker appearance in the photo is simply a result of her getting a ‘tan’, while others have advised people commenting on her appearance to ‘chill out’
However, many have defended Ariana, as they explained that her Italian roots mean that she would tan easily. One user said: ‘She’s ITALIAN! All we gotta do is walk in the sun and we get TAN!! She looks more Latina than black anyway. Y’all maddd!’
‘Stop saying that she’s black now. She isn’t! It’s summer, she has a tan. Stop hating on her and live your life,’ another said.
A third user wrote: ‘Y’all are freaking out over the fact that u think she’s black in this when’s she’s nowhere near that. She’s just tan in this, chill the hell out.’
In her interview with the publication, Ariana opened up about her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller’s death, as she says she doesn’t remember much from that time.
She also talked about her brief engagement to Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson, branding the whirlwind romance an ‘an amazing distraction.’
‘It was frivolous and fun and insane and highly unrealistic, and I loved him, and I didn’t know him,’ she said.
‘I’m like an infant when it comes to real life and this old soul, been-around-the-block-a-million-times artist. I still don’t trust myself with the life stuff.’
After Mac died she needed time alone, and ultimately turned to music. ‘But if I’m completely honest, I don’t remember those months of my life because I was (a) so drunk and (b) so sad,’ she said.
‘I don’t really remember how it started or how it finished, or how all of a sudden there were 10 songs on the board,’ the singer added.
Vogue’s August 2019 issue is available on newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on Tuesday, July 16, and nationwide on Tuesday, July 23.