Ariana Grande's Stylist Claps Back After Singer is Accused of Cultural Appropriation

Ariana Grande might have the signature style of a baby-doll-gone-bad, but with her long ponytail and tanned skin, the singer has been accused of cultural appropriation more than once.

But this time, her stylist Law Roach is defending her. BuzzFeed reports that mood boards for Grande’s Sweetener World Tour were leaked this week by Instagram account Diet Prada. The boards show that almost all of Grande’s looks for the tour are inspired by women of color, including Rihanna and Ciara.

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*?? ?????????* : If you've ever needed proof of Ariana Grande’s appropriation of black aesthetics (beyond the obvious), it's all here. Multiple designers approached by her team to create costumes for the 2019 Sweetener tour have shared with us a PDF moodboard sent to them by her team. 72% of the four page document features black women as a reference (mostly Rihanna and a couple Ciara images). It also features several images of @creepyyeha 's distinctive made-to-measure bondagewear, which Versace - despite having bondage in their house codes as well - seemed to have replicated with minor changes. Arianators, come at us lol. • #sweetener #arianagrande #appropriation #culturalappropriation #creepyyeha #sweetenertour #popstar #musician #costumes #bondage #hardware #leather #custom #madetomeasure #madeinnyc #versace #donatellaversace #madeinitaly #pastel #pink #rihanna #badgalriri #ciara #rihannanavy #blackgirlmagic #wiwt #ootd #dietprada

A post shared by Diet Prada ™ (@diet_prada) on Sep 5, 2019 at 8:55am PDT

"If you've ever needed proof of Ariana Grande’s appropriation of black aesthetics (beyond the obvious), it's all here," they begin their lengthy caption.

Roach quickly clapped back at the accusations, sharing Diet Prada's post to his Instagram Story and writing:

"I don't really understand this post. This mood board was created by me (a black man) for her. So am [I] stealing from my own culture??? She didn't style herself people. She has trusted me for years with her image and [lets] me do me. Also who [in] the fashion industry isn't inspired by Rihanna?"

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@diet_prada posted a feed where they call out @arianagrande for her costumes in the Sweetener World Tour. It showed the moodboard where the costumes are inspired by black women singers' costumes. And the account thought it is as an "appropriation" since Grande is White. But then, Grande's stylist @luxurylaw posted a story where he questioned why it can be called as an "appropriation". Since Roach is Black. So fashion people, what do you think? Is it a form of an "appropriation"? Pic Source : @luxurylaw's Insta Story. #majalah #majalahonline #majalahfashion #majalahfashiononline #situsfashion #magazine #onlinemagazine #trendpage #article #fashionarticle #situslifestyle #lifestylesite #onlinefashionmagazine #onlinefashionnews #arianagrande #sweetenertour #lawroach

A post shared by Studio 23 (@studio23mag) on Sep 6, 2019 at 2:12am PDT

Grande has yet to comment on the accusations.