Ariana Grande's 'Accent' Sparks Debate

Footage of Ariana Grande's vocal transformation is causing controversy online.

The debate was sparked by TikTok user @Haussdrama on Wednesday, after she shared a video analyzing Grande's changing accent over the years.

"I'm not saying that you can't change, that you can't evolve, but the shape-shifting of this woman..." @Hauss said before sharing two interview clips of Grande.

In the first video, the pop star discusses how fame could impact any future children she may have. Although the footage isn't dated, the space buns hairstyle suggests it was sometime during her Yours Truly and My Everything (2013 to 2015) or Dangerous Woman (2015–2017) eras.

Grande is wearing her signature look in the clip, including winged eye liner, dark locks brushed away from her face and a deep tan.

"Nah, I just want my kids to discover when they want to," Grande tells the interviewer. "I want my kids to f*** with me so much as a mom, that they're like 'yeh my mom sings or whatever."

The second snippet is from Grande's interview with podcaster Zach Sang, released on Tuesday, where the 30-year-old discussed the leak of her track "Fantasize."

Grande recently dyed her hair blonde to play Glinda the Good Witch in the film adaption of Broadway musical Wicked, although the VMA winner still has her trademark high ponytail in the video.

Grande paired the look with simple eye make-up and a scarlet pout to match her red dress.

"For me it was like a parody of a 90s girl group, but they loved it," she told Sang, with her voice noticeably higher and more polished than in the first clip.

@Hauss paused the clip and says: "You even notice the little accent she has when she says certain words like 'parody' that she's never had before.

"I just want to know like, when she's going to pick a character and stick with it? Like, is this the final boss?"

The TikToker pondered Sang's thoughts on the new Grande because "he's used to interviewing Ariana when she was in her shape-shifting era."

Grande also addressed homewrecking rumors in the interview with Sang. The "Thank You, Next" singer is reportedly dating Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, who split with wife Lilly Jay, in July 2023.

In a statement to TMZ, Jay appeared to blame Grande for the split, calling her marriage "collateral damage" in the couple's budding romance.

Mimicking Grande's new pronunciation, @Hauss said: "It's inexlicably disgusting how people think of me as a homewrecker."

Grande's changing accent sparked backlash in the comments.

"Not the blaccent," said @Bellissim0.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a Blaccent is when a non-Black person uses the "pronunciation, cadences, or grammatical features of African American English," with the action considered stereotypical, offensive and a form of cultural appropriation.

"Omg," commented Hayley Kim.

"It seems really weird," agreed marleyparanormal.

"She can't get [her] own personality," wrote @yan.yang.

"Ok now add the baby talk/makeup/K-pop 'aesthetic' of 2021," said @seajasher09. "Very shifty."

Newsweek has reached out to Ariana Grande for comment via email.

However, others defended Grande, with @queenoftheforsaken writing: "They'll never leave Ariana grande alone."

"This is so mean," agreed shannia.

"I believe her voice change is from her filming for Glenda the past 2 or so years. Your brain sort of adapts that new behavior," wrote Ben.

"Y'all look in your snapchat memories from 2019, you sound and look different too come on now," commented Cloud.

"Your really do hate this woman with all your heart?" said @_mr.serg. "Go do something productive!!!"

Grande has been accused of cultural appropriation in the past. The dark tan she sported for several years led to allegations of "Blackfishing," which is when a non-Black person uses cosmetics or surgery to appear Black or of mixed race.