Pop sensation Ariana Grande apologized publicly after backlash for unintentionally offending horror icon Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. The controversy unfolded earlier this week when Grande posted a Halloween-themed social media post drawing comparisons to the legendary Elvira character, something that drew critique not only from her fans but also from the star herself.
In a since-deleted tweet, Grande posted this picture of herself in this dark, gothic costume that would shame Elvira. The singer’s Halloween sendup was playful, but many Elvira fans felt she went too far by appropriating the beloved character without paying due homage to Cassandra Peterson-a horror legend who has portrayed Elvira since 1981.
Horror-comedy icon, with signature sharp wit, Peterson didn’t waste much time before taking to the social platform to voice her disbelief. “Imitation may indeed be the sincerest form of flattery, but acknowledgement of the original is always best,” she posted on Twitter, seemingly referring to Grande’s post without actually naming her. That was enough to get a reply from Grande.
Grande quickly apologized in her Instagram Stories with regret over the situation at hand. “I’m really deeply saddened by this mix up,” the “Thank U, Next” singer said. “I have been a huge fan of Elvira since I was a kid and would never want to disrespect her or her legacy. My intention was never to appropriate her image without acknowledging her. I apologize if my post caused any offense.
Apologies have been mixed by fan reaction. While some fans applauded Grande for owning up to the matter, others blamed it to be all hype. “It’s Halloween. Everybody goes dressed-up. It’s all in good, harmless fun,” one of the Twitter fans said. Others rallied with Peterson, saying that those icons like Elvira deserve respect and should not be disrespected by powerful stars like Grande.
So far, no kind of follow-up statement has been made by Elvira; her fans are still wondering if things have finally come to a rest in this thing. The damage the incident will have on the reputation of Grande is something that will tell its own story; but a fast apology does suggest that she doesn’t shun the idea of correcting and learning from mistakes.
For now, she is hoping that the apology heals the rift both with Peterson and her fans as she focuses on the music and what is to come.
