The Moral Grayness of Celebrity Lookalikes

[@mv9653]

I’m curious as to how drag tribute acts fit into all this. Dolly Parton seems to love that Trixie Mattel does a tribute to her and they’ve performed together multiple times, but that’s kind of an unusual case. Since this video mentioned Selena specifically, I was reminded of a local drag queen who’s most famous for her Selena tribute work. Would Selena’s family feel differently if it was a drag performer who made it obvious that it was drag than they would about the women in the video? Does it matter how the celebrity is portrayed? Drag can be very obviously silly and making fun, but it can also be as reverent as any other tribute act. It’s also worth noting that for some gay people whose families aren’t accepting, certain celebrities almost take on a role of parasocial found family. Doing drag as a celebrity that fills that role is very much intended as an act of reverence or even ancestor worship when it comes to people like Judy Garland and Josephine Baker. Just something to think about.

[@naomi.cannibal]

I honestly don’t think the drag ones are as questionable. It’s part of what they do, and they’re not really confusing people into thinking they’re that person. Moreso it’s a facet of what they do. They’re also not moving through life even looking like that person in their off time. It’s kind of why I said I don’t agree with the Quintanilla family going after ALL impersonators in general.

[@SobrietyandSolace]

I have mixed feelings about drag. Like impersonation, I see it as valid performance art, but it’s also a weirdly overblown caricatures of a woman by a man that feels almost comparable to blackface or minstrelsy depending on how it’s done. There’s a lot of pretending to be a ‘sassy black woman’ by people outside of that demographic As for impersonators I understand se people might find it creepy if the impersonator is obsessed with them or stalks their social media to copy everything they do or there is no division between the performance and that person’s real identity. It can suck if they take away business from the actual artist but I also understand the term imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and it is often interesting to see the celebrities actually meet their impersonators or doppelgängers.

[@squarebear619]

​​@@SobrietyandSolace while calling ciswomen derogatory terms like Fish. The yt and yt adjacent using the Sapphire trope with their language patterns is shakey af because a lot of them are still racist af which you can see the separation of Blck LGBTQ+ and yt LGBTQ+. I enjoy drag and Ballroom but I do know that it can be a slippery slope. Imitation is flattery but Blck women are already marginalized enough.

[@phil6748]

@@SobrietyandSolace cis straight women also do drag as both drag kings and drag queens so I don’t think you can compare it to blackface. Drag kings exist but black people doing “whiteface” isn’t a thing.

[@phil6748]

@@SobrietyandSolace Do you feel the same way about drag kings? Or drag queens who are women?

[@absolutelynotellen]

I still remember a period where there is so much Ariana Grande look alikes around 2016-2019'esque? It was a fever dream lmao.

[@naomi.cannibal]

The oversized sweatshirts w the suede boots was the real pandemic

[@ashleyshim2078]

​@@naomi.cannibal 😂😂😂😂

[@baldbicth123]

No like WHAT was that... I'm sure girls wanted to look like Britney and Madonna back in the day but these girls literally wanted to wear Ariana's skin 😂

[@eg9220]

And they all denied trying to look like her and claimed they barely even knew who she was

[@benamisai-kham5892]

Everytime people tell me I look like a certain actress I just never see it

[@FILMTHING680]

The ariana Onlyfans thing is fucking creepy. Ariana should do something against that fr

[@the-berries-and-cream-dude]

sadly, i don't think she actually can. like, legally, the impersonator isn't doing anything wrong but morally, it's all kinds of wrong, it is very unsettling.

[@FILMTHING680]

@@the-berries-and-cream-dude yeah, i didn't said she should do something legal against it, but maybe she could talk to her and talk about how disgusting it is.

[@secretlybees]

There's been loads of celebrity impersonator adult videos for so long, I don't think there's much anyone can do to stop it. Unlike deepfakes, something like impersonation, art, animation, is often considered transformative enough to be allowed in many cases.

[@kd_16420]

i personally think paige is weird asf. it’s one thing to just happen to look like a celebrity, but it’s a completely different thing to go out of you way to look like them. as we all just saw in the video she really doesn’t look like ariana w/o makeup on, so her doing her makeup purposely to look more like her even though she isn’t even a fan anymore is very weird point blank. and the OF was the cherry on top. it’s up there with the celebrity deepfake p0rn in term of creepiness.

[@mentally-ill-mary]

Paige is definitely a weird one especially now that she’s doing the onlyfans stuff. SIDE EYE!!

[@naomi.cannibal]

And I will be covering deep fakes/ AI soon!

[@crab2195]

i completely agree but i honestly think it goes so much further than just being “creepy” or “weird”. it’s disgusting, vile, degrading and cruel. maybe i’m reading into it too much but the idea that people can look to another creator to live out their “sexual fantasies” with another artist sounds soul-crushing. i can’t even begin to describe how awful of a human being you have to be to do that to someone. she’s the lowest of the low and i hope she has her day in court. there needs to be some sort of repercussions for this behavior.

[@jlouiseknust]

@@naomi.cannibal I cannot imagine how I would feel if someone who looked exactly like me did online sex work. Honestly, the more I think about all of these things, and how much we as humans really abuse the artists that give us so much life, in the context of Ari specifically... it all kind of makes sense of some of her more recent dysphoric-type cosmetic surgeries. She doesn't look like Paige anymore really so. Maybe that was the point 😞

[@incomiiiiiiing6646]

@@naomi.cannibal deepfakes with kpop idols (even underage ones) is a huuge issue and there used to be a website dedicated to that and even had a “top 10” most viewed idols 🙁

[@ban3621]

IMO i think paige having an OF whilst being an ariana look a like is no different from someone making deepfake corn of ariana grande, its strange and its understandable as to why ariana lowkey hates them.

[@mindlessjamila]

!!

[@ashleyshim2078]

Facts

[@1ia802]

agrreed

[@user-kl2cx7ob4n]

you can say porn. nothing’s gonna happen if you do. why are you censoring yourself..

[@markalexander3659]

you can just say "porn" lol

[@smurfyboy92]

I think one the worst ones is I saw is someone on Twitter dressed as Selena with a bullett hole in their chest. And it’s like do you not know that her parents, siblings, friends and husband are all still alive and could’ve seen that. It was tacky and downright disgusting

[@kamsismith]

I remember seeing that. Who thought that was a good idea to post it, let alone execute the process?

[@ngkmrs9960]

It really reduces her as an actual human being and it’s the grossest thing ever.

[@makeupbyriquelle6511]

omg that’s disgusting

[@msoddballz5763]

Wow really?!!!! The disrespect!!! That is so low and downright evil.

[@msoddballz5763]

​@@kamsismith attention seeking. That person was looking for a reaction.

[@FK-mx8hy]

Selling products using Selena’s marketing when you have nothing to do with her or her work is WILD.

[@bipolaryx]

Ariana has changed her face so much over the last few years that lookalikes cannot simply keep up lmaoo

[@elizabethvermilion4078]

Dressing up as a celebrity for OF or other sexualized content is weird af. I was obsessed with My Chemical Romance growing up and I remember so many people would cosplay as Frank and Gerard and take pictures of themselves kissing each other. Those pictures would end up getting passed around and people would get confused over whether they were real or not. Just feels icky to me

[@obnoxious_alien]

Same thing in the Visual Kei scene(Japanese musicians with extraordinarily outfits and various music styles, idk how I should explain this). I was super into it when I was younger and it was so uncomfortable seeing people (mostly girls I think) cosplaying them and kissing or doing half naked photo montages. There's also A LOT of shipping art and fan fiction between the (mostly male) artists, I think Boys Love/Yaoi also plays a part into it since most fans are also huge Anime fans. When 2 musicians were really close to eachother there were also speculations of them being a gay couple, as if 2 men couldn't be best buddies too. Took me some time to realise how really fcked up this is as a teen, like imagine strangers drawing or writing nsfw content about you and your friend/co-worker...

[@fortytwo4-2]

I agree, that is very strange. Even if the celebrity is okay with it, it's still just a little weird.

[@devoutmisanthrope5687]

I think there's a difference between a look alike and someone who actually tries to 'become' that person. For example, if someone just dresses or wears the style of a celebrity I don't think that's an issue. However, if they start trying to speak like the person, go to places that person frequents, or make adult content roleplaying that celebrity it's gone way too far.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Agree! Some people genuinely can’t help who they look like

[@andresboehmwald9171]

I think is sad, imagine living your life trying to become someone else and having 0 personal identity

[@maggotmaiden]

Especially the adult content thing is suing grounds..

[@shadyjoanneboots]

Y'know on a related note with discussing Selena, I'd be interested to see you do a video about how weird the industry is when it comes to dead artists, whether that be with impersonations or with the hologram tours. It's like they still wanna capitalize and make money off of these artists even long after they've passed, I've always found it so weird personally.

[@naomi.cannibal]

I did a hologram video forever ago! I think it’s linked somewhere in the video or end screen

[@alx_swae5743]

Well Selena and other artists sign contacts to let companies make money off of them after death, I’ve seen this confirmed with Mariah Carey and Selena. Selena’s dad literally had to come out and say that Selena signed contracts to distribute money among her family before and after death. Selena would’ve wanted anything to be and her family is keep that alive. It’s us fans who are content hungry, as Selena’s mom said, and she’s right, it’s the fan’s fault for demanding so much content. As a fan, I hope they keep on going, I want a hologram concert, ai covers, and everything.

[@paiviraisanen2194]

YUP theres no soul of the performer there anymoreee so i think its soo dumb and dont understand why anyone would wanna go see that

[@marissawilson4644]

I think that holograms of deceased artists are tacky.

[@BrooklynBabeee]

@@alx_swae5743 completely agree with you, on another note Selena’s family was part of the band, artist themselves in the same band as Selena. Selena’s dad was always protective of her image & rightfully so! Selena would’ve been done dirty by the industry if it wasn’t for her father, Suzette continues her philanthropic work & A.b alone is a music genius, Chris has a band, they don’t get enough credit. They all still really miss Selena too.

[@bad_revecula]

The Ashley one is fine in my opinion although making money off of simply looking like someone else is still weird to me. All she did was wear lipstick, have cats and look like Taylor. But Paige is straight up posting OF content cosplaying (??? that feels so odd to say about a real person omg) Ariana 😭😭

[@Mskittenlover12]

Oh the Ashley one is absolutely not fine. She is extremely creepy and most swifties cannot stand her. She hasn't only copied every aspect of Taylor's appearance but also her mannerisms. Every time Taylor changes her appearance, Ashley copies it to the exact detail. She sits like Taylor, makes hand gestures like Taylor, changes her voice to sound like Taylor. She needs mental help. She is not normal and gives off serious Single White Female vibes.

[@Fucorii]

The thing why people hate Ashley*is because she always says that she isn't trying to copy Taylor while simultaneously making her hair, clothes and make up just like the 1989 Taylor.... Even her demeanor is like 1989 Taylor (yes Taylor's demeanor changed per eras)

[@zidvicious6047]

I think impersonating someone and pretending like you’re not is just disingenuous. Even worse if you’re using their likeness in OF content that the original being impersonated did not consent to. That first girl should be sued honestly.

[@whatreallymatters571]

If she is claiming to be her in her OF content then I'm sure she could but if she just looks like her then she would have no grounds.

[@nickoffury]

The ariana and Taylor ones are weird cos they say "i can't help it I look like her" but it's not just the looks. Especially Ashley. She has the mannerisms and everything. Strange

[@maddiedoesntkno]

@@Mmmmmmm57293 really though, filler, veneers, flipper or implants (like her whole dental line changed (judging by the little lisp, it’s either implants or a flipper). It’s not just adopting Taylor’s style (and the same kind of cat), she literally altered her body.

[@maggiehall3471]

This is such an incredibly complicated psychological minefield, and a reflection of the dehumanizing nature of fame, IMO. The Elvis Presley Impersonator market is a multi million dollar business, and the estate was pretty much cornered into authorizing certain impersonators because of the avalanche after his death. The Vegas weddings, the people who tour as him, a ton have made records performing songs in his style decades after his death... he became a Figure rather than a Person in pop culture long before his death, but after his death it's like he became a character that anyone could cycle in and out of. This isn't to knock the impersonators; a handful of them are extremely talented impressionists. I just find it uncanny that they've become so culturally accepted that they're one of the most popular wedding stereotypes in the country. I can't think of another estate that has had to implement an official tribute artist protocol to manage the onslaught.

[@naomi.cannibal]

this is such a great comment thanks for sharing it

[@jasw7660]

I think its okay to be an impersonator as long as you treat it like a 9-5 job. But if it takes over your whole personality and you start acting/living like that celeb irl its creepy and weird...

[@PastelN01r]

I remember when i saw on twitter that an ariana grande lookalike was using her image for NSFW purposes and it gave me an ick bigger than elon musk's ego

[@naomi.cannibal]

right Paige is so dirty for that idc

[@rasolomonwrites]

For me impersonating musicians isn't that weird. Especially for many classic rock bands where the members have passed away or don't tour anymore seeing random groups go out doing Queen or Led Zeppelin tributes or something is not strange. For me, it's respectful as long as people take off the David Bowie or Elvis or Selena costume when they go home. Some of these people are just being weird. Using Selena's likeness to sell wine or Ariana Grande's for Only Fans when you claim you aren't even a fan is so weird. Straight to jail IMO.

[@jessicastraw6593]

I think it’s super creepy honestly. Okay so someone has a passing resemblance to someone famous, why are you then dressing and acting like them on purpose? Be your own person

[@amethystdream8251]

The crazy part to me is the audiences that even make this a profitable endeavor. Like really, are the aesthetics of the person all they cared about? There is such a thing as a soul, which is where creativity comes from in the first place. The soul and the specific life the person lived, built the celebrity they're worshipping

[@RamboQuellz]

Also I want to add are you really a "celebrity look alike" when you are PURPOSELY FORCEFULLY Trying to look like that celebrity? It's creepy and comes off as you want the attention that comes with that celebrity also!

[@naomi.cannibal]

Right, but they’re like “I just like to dress like this”

[@JenniLovesBurgers]

I think the argument that imitation ‘isn’t hurting anyone’ really depends on the context. Some guy dressing up as Elvis singing at a wedding is one thing and clearly is harmless and meant for fun. Paige dressing up as Ariana and actively posting content on OF in her Ari get up actively hurts Ariana’s brand and image, esp bc Ari didn’t consent to her image being using like that. It’s especially weird since Paige said she’s no longer a fan of Ariana, so clearly it’s not just for fun and entertainment when she’s just using it as a revenue source

[@whatreallymatters571]

Looking like Ariana who doesn't even look like herself, and doing porn or other things isn't something that is automatically bad though. Also like you mentioned the "hurting" someone is completely dependent on context, many people don't see porn as bad so it would be a stretch to say someone who sung songs about being dicked down so hard that she couldn't walk straight, and wanting to 69 as a damaging thing. Now if she is posting videos that claim to be Ariana then that's another story and I'm sure Ariana can sue for her likeness being used in that way or more importantly her name as her likeness would be up for debate.

[@angeldeactivated]

The Paige situation is literally so disgusting and is literally no different than distributing celebrity s*x dolls, and can even be used as r*venge p*rn without context and harm Ariana so much, and it’s super r*pey how feverishly (mostly) males get around s*xualizing those who can’t or have not consented, and how she made that page only months (if that, last year I was fighting incels on Twitter about this and SHES STILL 18 or just barely older than that) after becoming a legal adult shows how she probably got groomed in some way into doing this in relation to something she was doing on musically as a middle schooler… yuck

[@amethystdream8251]

Yeah what I wonder is, where were the adults for Paige? Why didn't she have people in her corner showing her how being herself was enough for her to live a good life? Where did she learn that Ariana's identity was more valuable than her own? Both Paige and Ariana are being harmed by a whole lot of people that we aren't even talking about.

[@lucastaylor3399]

Fr, she's basically turned herself into a living sentient deepfake of Ariana

[@zaneenaz7515]

Jasmine Chiswell would have been interesting to cover as well, because she switches back and forth between trying to be a Marilyn Monroe impersonator and an influencer. I find it creepy when she imitates Marilyn’s mannerisms while doing modern things, especially knowing that it isn’t how the real Marilyn acted during her life.

[@naomi.cannibal]

You’re SO right! I find her TikToks unsettling too

[@absolutelynotellen]

Personally to me, i enjoy Jasmine's contents though. I feel like she's decent.

[@vivalasammm]

there needs to be a horror movie specifically about this topic, it's so interesting.

[@shortinsomniac76]

Cam kind of touches on this in a more paranormal way, and the protagonist isnt a celebrity but a sex worker thats rising in popularity

[@vivalasammm]

@@shortinsomniac76 I love Cam! such an underrated horror film. would love to see more horror films and tv shows tap into that. Swarm is also a good TV show that taps into stan culture if you haven't seen that, highly recommend.

[@natasa3412]

I love how every 4 years Ariana gives an opportunity to a different race of her fans to look like her 🥰

[@nendu4316]

ded💀💀

[@natasa3412]

@@nendu4316 #inclusivekween 😌

[@FILMTHING680]

IM DYINGGGG LMAOOO

[@tylerhackner9731]

Lol 😆

[@Holygroundgirlie.fanpage]

Nahhh 💀

[@ciaraskeleton]

I think that Paige starting an OF cosplaying Ariana has probably impacted Ariana severely. You know how she looks totally different now? Blonde, thinner, different makeup, no ponytail. Maybe its because of this kind of stuff. Imagine how much that would wreck you knowing adult content was out there that might as well be you bc the person looks and acts just like you. That is a complete violation, Ariana has had enough of that in her life. Poor Ari

[@kamsismith]

For me personally, it depends. It's one thing to look like a celebrity whether naturally or with plastic surgery, it's another to downright exploit and put them in inappropriate or sexual situations. You mentioned Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Selena Quintanilla-Perez but I instantly thought of Edward Moss. I'm sure you(or anyone else) might not know who he is, but he's a Michael Jackson lookalike who played him in various movies and TV shows, most notably Scary Movie 3. Almost all of MJ’s fans have criticized him for portraying him in a negative light as he played him in TV shows where the shows would recreate his 2005 child molestation trial. He also did a performance where he “comes back” from the dead two months after his death, which was super disrespectful on so many levels. As much as he denies that he’s being malicious with his portrayal, why continue to play him in his worst moments? Given that we're getting an Amy Winehouse biopic that's coming out either this year or next year as it's currently in post-production, I can't imagine someone impersonating her during her worst moments(addiction, mental illness, and bulimia). Amy had her demons 100%, but there was more to her than that.

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

One Ariana imposter that still stick with me is jesschic mainly bc of when she revealed in a emotional video that Ariana inspired her to look alike bc of the past childhood tramua being bullied and hated for being mixed race and seeing Ariana play into that racially ambiguous cosplay kinda of normalized it. I watched another video that showcased her behavior is connected to symptoms of mental disorders like dissociative identity disorder this one really struck me bc of how much some people cosplay into celebrities look likes to cover up some underlying mental/emotional issues it also made me realize why Ariana’s racially ambiguous cosplay was problematic for a reason

[@naomi.cannibal]

I did NOT know that poc were looking up to her for representation… I don’t want to blame the kids but whoa

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

@@naomi.cannibal yeah I did watched videos of POC content creators saying how uncomfortable it was seeing Ariana cosplay into racially ambiguous looks bc it gave the impression of folks loving mixed race features when it on a white person

[@2law2be]

Michael Jackson use to hire his lookalikes LOL....They would appear in videos if he couldn't finish them (like in "Who Is It" MJ appears only a few times, the rest is all a lookalike), or he would use them as stand ins/rehearsals for music videos if he couldn't be there (like in the making of "Black or White" you can see MJ chilling with his impersonator). He has also used some as decoy when leaving hotels or concert venues.

[@sadiewood7302]

some of the hate to paige was unnecessary in the beginning bc she was so young but literally making an onlyfans impersonating ariana is creepy asf and seeing that probably made ari extremely uncomfortable. completely crossing the line and profiting off of violating ari’s boundaries and exploiting her likeness for financial gain. ew

[@missingmydog]

Please make a video about the Quintanilla family. Theres just so much to talk about and you never miss!!

[@gianacardenas9164]

no deadass please!!

[@naomi.cannibal]

That could be interesting! Y’all gotta follow @selenaquintanillaetc on insta, she gives such good Selena and Quintanilla fam stuff even I didn’t know (and always with receipts)

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@missbellaiza that's a rumor that has been debunked several times. Selena was DOA. Please stop spreading this.

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@jeraldisme I was talking about the Paramedics who testified in court.

[@Pink_pr1ncess]

@@missbellaiza you really think they would let their daughter die in the name of Religion? Bffr, the Quintanillas loved their daughter/sister and probably feel guilty about her death everyday.

[@IvyroseGullwhacker]

I just don't want the weird TikTokers to create additional stigma around drag queens who make their career on celebrity impersonation. There are many drag queens who have made their livelihood on impersonation - not just in looks but in full blown performance style - and it's done out of immense love and respect for these female artists.

[@satyress8634]

when i was super young i used to get that i looked like lorde, and because of that i used to curl my straight hair and wear clothes like her in order to look more like her. i was young and i didn’t have much confidence so it gave me an ego boost knowing that i looked like a celebrity that i already loved and i thought was beautiful. now tho i realize that i went to weird lengths in order to look like her and it made me lose a sense of self in a way? like i was insecure and i didn’t like the way i looked so if i looked more like a celebrity, then i would be more accepted in some way. i think as a 14-15 year old it was just a coping mechanism for low self confidence but i can definitely see that that impact can carry on into adulthood for some impersonators.

[@Michael-gv7ut]

I think the people who dress up as dead celebs especially just make me so uncomfortable. When people try and exploit Marilyn Monroe, Selena, or other REAL people, it comes off as disrespectful. Advertising yourself as a passed person and playing into that is really inauthentic and lazy. There's a difference between paying a tribute to someone (ex. would be Jennifer Lopez and Selena) and exploiting their work and death. Personally, if someone lived or made a living dressed up as me after I died and copied my work, I wouldn't feel okay with that.

[@tokyoyoongi5538]

Jessichic (the OG wannabe that tricked people at Disneyland) is ALSO creating Onlyfans content dressed up as Ariana. She even used Ari's name in a tweet advertising it, but deleted it quickly. This is so disturbing.

[@ChampayneCole]

I can't lie this is creepy. At least drag shows have the fun, camp element. These examples felt real "Girl Interrupted" like... The humorous part is how they all seemed so shocked at people finding this so jarring.

[@Kellyeeeee]

In middle school (2006 or 07) I went to LA for the first time and took a picture with a Johnny Depp (as Jack Sparrow) impersonator and when I posted it to Facebook my friends actually thought I met Johnny Depp. Young people/stans are easily riled up. Celeb impersonators have been around for ages!

[@melaniesinclair8380]

I understand Selena's brother being upset by her signing the CD for the girl, but knowing how much she's bullied and how she gets death threats already it seemed intentionally malicious for him to make his issue with it known publically. He could have DM'd her or found a way to get in contact with her privately to let his feelings be known. He wanted her to get attacked for it.

[@naomi.cannibal]

I didn’t even think about it this way. I agree with you, he could have handled it privately for sure

[@zzoa.]

Ohhh no noo the Paige OF thing is really messed up, Ariana should definitely do something about it, it's so violating Looking forwards to the AI deep fake video, technology is evolving at an insane rate and we haven't really seen all the repercussions yet I feel like Great video! Original subject and just a great watch 😊

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you sooo much!!

[@mentally-ill-mary]

Haven’t watched the video yet but first glance at the thumbnail and my wig almost flew all the way awf!!! My queen Selena la reina of tejano music is a shining mf *STAR* many try to emulate but will *NEVER* replicate her natural beauty, talent, charisma & star power. Do not play with her she is not one of them.

[@naomi.cannibal]

NEVER was!! I know I preach about parasocial relationships but Selena has always been the ONE for me

[@mentally-ill-mary]

@@naomi.cannibal No agree! Im half way through the video right now but I just think sometimes certain celebrities or public figures shouldn’t be impersonated. Leave their legacies alone especially if they’ve already passed on. We don’t wanna risk drawing any extra negative attention to their career bc again humans are imperfect creatures but by god Selena is as close to perfect as it gets & I will defend her til my last breath 🥲

[@dayvidd]

Generally speaking I don't have a problem with celebrity impersonation, it's a big part of drag culture and often takes a lot of skill to perfect, so I definitely can respect that. But of course there are cases that just feel very wrong, like doing p*rn while impersonating someone, so I think it's kinda a case by case situation where as long as certain lines aren't crossed and nobody gets scammed it's mostly fine.

[@RamboQuellz]

Naomi thank you for bringing back the aesthetic of commentators getting dressed up, sitting in front of the camera and talking because I'm tired of the "voice over moving pictures" aesthetic everyone does now.

[@naomi.cannibal]

I appreciate this. So many people are genuinely upset I started showing my face

[@wealllovemerylstreep7037]

@@naomi.cannibal Huh? The face is a slay and truly a card! The ability to look in to the camera and engage is a talent. A talent that most of the creators that do it...... shouldn't.

[@crab2195]

@@naomi.cannibal i love seeing your face! ever since you started talking to the camera directly i feel like your videos became much more personable. it feels like i’m talking to a friend on facetime. very comforting, love your content🥰💞

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@wealllovemerylstreep7037 thank you!! and obviously I just kept it pushing

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@crab2195 thank you so much!!

[@CapnCrimson]

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with celebrity impersonators, as long as they treat it as more of a profession than a personality. Elvis impersenators are very well known and almost just a rite of passage for any awkward company Christmas party. But I am kind of worried about the first girl, Paige. She's very young and still in that phase where she's forming her identity and personality. If she's been trying to look like Ariana Grande for so long, sicne she was so young, that has to mess with her head. It seems like she never got a chance to develop her own identity before she started pretending to be someone else. She might say she's different off camera, but she also said she dresses like Ariana Grande for most days. Plus her entire online persona is based on looking like someone else. I can imagine it's going to give her one hell of an identity crisis later on in life, because she never had time to find out who *she* is, because she was so busy being someone else.

[@LifeOfTheAngels]

I get the entertainment value in celebrity lookalikes, they’ve existed for years and years and it didn’t start with ariana, but there are some that creep into a territory where it’s like…ok this is your only personality, it’s not a thing where they do the impression for funsies, their entire lives encompass pretending to be a celebrity, I do think it’s a psychological thing where these ppl have no identity for themselves so they base their entire existence around looking like a celebrity doppelgänger, it’s especially weird when these ppl start doing sex work (not to say that in itself is bad) knowing they’ve built an entire online career pretending to be a celebrity, it’s like a weird fetish

[@kanethomas95]

One of the funniest things to me about celebrity look-alikes is how Dolly Parton, THE Dolly Parton once entered a Dolly Parton look-alike contest, and LOST lmfaooo like, HOW?! For real though, I don't think there is anything really 'wrong' with performing as a celeb at bars or clubs etc, if it's all just done through entertainment purposes, and let's say you have a regular 9-5 job, and it's really not what your entire life is based on but where I draw the line is when said person starts to almost 'think' they are that person and base their entire personality/life around being that person. Dressing as them on the regular, people on the streets mistaking them for them, doing videos online dressed as them etc etc Idk, if it was me, and I was a celebrity, and people were doing that, I'd find it hella creepy and be really freaked out lol even if they kept saying how they were a big fan of me or something, and said they mean no harm. I'd still be really creeped out.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Well said!

[@societycrumbles]

As a big Swiftie, Ashley is kind of a menace in the community, but most people just choose to ignore her.

[@lhvy5066]

swifties are a menace to society

[@bydivadream]

She is? In what ways, if I may ask?

[@jadynbonewitz]

same with Paige for arianators bith of those women are not seeing the pearly gates

[@societycrumbles]

@@bydivadream Well, she goes out of her way to imitate everything about Taylor and then pretend people are making it up, like she didn't devote her whole life to look and act like her. It's not just cosplaying at this point, it's kinda creepy.

[@kimkardashi-un2.051]

@@youtubesupportsfascism ?

[@OGseoulite]

That Paige girl is OBSESSED with Ariana Grande idc what no one says, I’m shocked Ariana hasn’t sued her for using her likeness to promote p*rn on onlyfans

[@BryonyClaire]

First video I've seen of yours and I love the deep dive and amount of work you put into this. It's SUCH a weird space to me, I understand people being huge fans of people and maybe sometimes dressing like them, but the OF in particular makes me feel the same way I do about deepfake *prawn (censoring for YT). It's clear what the intention is because it's someone impersonating someone else, it's not okay at all in my books. Plus thinking about the effects on the family members who are seeing people impersonate their dead sister/daughter for profit continually... that's just heartbreaking, I really feel for the family members in particular

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you so much 💕

[@ririv02]

I’m glad you made this video because there is truly a thin line between “imitation is the biggest form of flattery” & a plain view obsession. It’s very scary. On another note, i would love to see you do a video de la familia Quintanilla. Your videos are absolutely phenomenally done. ❤

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you ♥️

[@ririv02]

@@naomi.cannibal you’re very welcome ☺️ ❤️

[@neilwritesstuff]

ashley's one angle is fighting for its life

[@lesvianaura]

I can somewhat understand it as a job- but once you like actively try to look, sound, and act like them in everyday life then that's weird. Especially when it crosses the line of creating NSFW content in their likeness.

[@alex9190]

doing OF dressed like someone else is so weird and gross. its like AI "corn". ariana should sue her

[@catcatcat7989]

celebrity culture as a whole is so messy especially with the internet….. watching this was so overwhelming but so interesting lol

[@amberlitvensky3368]

I remember seeing Ariana what she said about Paige of the mixing of her current look back then with Cat Valentine's dialogue and I remembered especially when she was dating Pete, Ariana did the Cat Valentine voice a lot to the point I remember someone saying online why is she still using that voice - I thought it was a bit hypocritical of her and it felt like she jumped on the hate train at the time. I think Ariana forgets that she's impressionable on her fans, and she is a beauty standard as well.

[@angelthedemon666]

I've went to a 90s band tribute concert as a teenager, it was the only way I could almost see my favorite bands live. And that night I learned of how it can be respectful or disrespectful. The Rage Against the Machine tribute was all poc, incorporated their own culture uniquely from how the real band did (like the singer wearing his tribes traditional native American clothing and chanting "land back" between songs). I felt the spirit of the band but they didn't have to dress up like them or pretend to be the real band, they just tried to carry on the legacy and feeling the band had and it was an amazing show. On the other hand there was the Nirvana tribute band and oh boy, the whole band dressed up like Nirvana down to having their hairstyles. The fake Kurt came in on a wheelchair he didn't actually need, a stunt Kurt famously did to mock the rumors he was sick, but doesn't really sit well with people today. Then the singer acted like Kurt on stage the whole time, and was really rude to people shouting requests. He also played nirvana's most controversial song that wasn't commonly played live. Idk even as a teen I got the vibe that this tribute wanted to be treated the way the real band was. Acting like they were super famous and not interacting with the crowd in the small venue. Like idk I liked the RATM tribute because they got the vibe of the band, interacted with the audience, had us chant political things (very fitting of the band they tributed) but for the modern time, they took the idea of the band and brought it to today and it was great. While the Nirvana tribute just wanted to recreate the aesthetic of nirvana, also the singer sucked I swear he only got the gig cause he looked like Kurt. Idk if I'll ever go to another tribute band it seems very hit or miss. It's also kinda weird to me how many tribute bands are touring, making a living off of other people's songs and likeness while the actual band is still very much alive and working. Idk how that works legally but it feels wrong. They're stealing other people's art, stories and experiences and getting small fame and money from it. Like idk you could just make your own band lol

[@Samzillah]

I went to a Pantera/Slayer tribute recently and I was very thankful they didn't try to act like the band members and just acted like any other local band. When tribute rock groups go too far it just makes it so hard to watch. I get the weirdness about having trubute/cover bands for bands that are still touring, but its nice for fans who cant afford to travel to major cities, or pay $200 for nosebleeds.

[@MattCr0ft]

Yesssss the color yellow is popping on your skin!!! Gorgeous as always 💛💛💛

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you love 💕

[@yo_darlin151]

Let's not forget that Amanda Solis acted her influencer Selena in the Murder Made Me Famous about that Yolanda Saldivar. That was how I knew who Amanda was. 💯

[@naomi.cannibal]

You KNOW I had to mention that- the drama was crazy at the time

[@syria0110]

I actually watched that episode and didn't even realize that she portrayed her

[@dinasilva9263]

Yellow looks great on you Naomi. Your vídeos are always so good. This theme for me, honestly doesn't upset me. I think it's funny if people don't get this to far and become obsessed with the star they try to imitated.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you so much! And yes I find it odd when people start dressing like the person almost every day, that can’t be too healthy

[@bshays21]

Yellow and purple, and of course any color looks great

[@grapeslikethefruit]

Since we have to have money to live, if impersonating a celeb helps make someone a living & they aren’t tryna lie and say they really are the person then I can’t hate on it. Great video as always 💜

[@xoxo.alexa529]

But if they cross the line and use their "impersonating" in exploitative ways by using the celeb's "face" that can create damage on the celebrities, their image, and careers like in Paige's case THEN ITS NOT‼️

[@Bettyhtespaghetti]

This kind of thing is creepy, although I have to admit I sometimes get comparisons to Molly Ringwald and Tiffany. It’s a good feeling, I can definitely see how getting compared to a beautiful celebrity can become an obsession

[@kristinoatley4710]

it's more insulting that they claim they're just being themselves or just taking inspiration. getting a celebrity's exact haircut and doing your makeup and getting surgery to look exactly like them is NOT being yourself. It's parasitic and honestly pathetic. At least own up to being a lookalike for clout. I would respect them even a little if they didn't claim to be themselves. These people are sad hollow shells.

[@kristinoatley4710]

To add to this, the people who constantly update their hair and makeup style to copy the celebrity in real time, especially the Ariana Grande wedding photos.... that's so low and gross.

[@Jeshiae]

I do also find celebrity lookalikes odd, but also, I cannot begin to understand the mindset of a clout chaser, and by definition, all lookalikes are clout chasers. Regarding your comment on the fame being a big factor--- well, I think this is accurate. These are people who became famous and maintain their fame by selling a marketable version of themselves. If you're a pop star, you are selling the product version of you. People dressing up as that version is not as strange to me, because I do find stage personas to be closer to characters than the person behind the persona. That being said, the circumstances and context (wincing at the Selena impersonator + the only fans accout) make a huge difference to me. Also the age of the impersonator, the frequency, potential misinformation, etc.. The least problematic of the options you showed imo was Ashley, who seems annoying, but I am clearly not the target audience. I think a lot of the ethical considerations (so separate from the legal ones around potential damage to the brand) come into play with the specific combination of clout chasing on the internet and the likelihood of misinformation. Not to say that having someone impersonate you wouldn't feel violating in some way, but I think that tends to be much more of an issue for people who don't keep their stage personas separate from how they feel as people. I think for a lot of these pop stars, it's probably mostly annoying at most (also assuming here that their teams are filtering out all the sex and other potentially trauma-related things out)

[@bydivadream]

It's heavily out of craving validation

[@SocaMusicLova1]

For those "impersonaters" who were born with that face without plastic surgery,top class skin care and injections it's delusional to say "they stole a face". Now the mental health of them can definitely be questioned how far they take it.

[@raverater9296]

I think this is mental health problem, you can’t tell me that dressing acting and even preforming as someone else isn’t a personality disorder to disassociate from yourself. It’s definitely not normal or healthy and it’s also a clear money grab.

[@kaoshi_kutie]

It’s definitely mental issue ❤

[@jovanym2931]

That Selena look alike is low key creepy she’s been doing it for a lot of years now . And at one point was giving autographs as Selena

[@ngkmrs9960]

It’s one thing to look like a celebrity and not letting the resemblance get to your head, but it’s another thing to intentionally try to profit off the image of those celebrities, especially those who have passed. The interview with Chris and Anais disgusted the hell out of me, as if Selena was some sort of Halloween costume to constantly sport for “entertainment purposes” and not this man’s whole wife.

[@naomi.cannibal]

I completely agree. That was so disrespectful. I know Chris is such a chill guy and does what he can to support Selena’s legacy, but sometimes people put him in disrespectful situations

[@ngkmrs9960]

@@naomi.cannibal Really great video by the way! Keep up the fantastic work and Happy Birthday!

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@ngkmrs9960 thank you so much 🫶🏾🫶🏾

[@ZamShazam1995]

In high school when hunger games was big I would have people come up to me every day and tell me i looked like jennifer lawrence. eventually, i had to have brain surgery and needed to shave my head right about the same time Jennifer was rocking the short pixie, and omg people literally thought I was trying to 'steal' her look. My grandma once said it's because we both have the same "beady little eyes"

[@ThyBrokenhartedx]

You’re definitely like top three favorite creators because you keep it interesting ASFF!!

[@JeffreyAvilesArt]

Selena's Family is just money hungry and don't respect her even in death. I had drawn a caricature of her and posted it on my site and I got an email telling me the same thing "Q Productions is the sole....." It was a drawing that was very stylized and I hadn't even named it after her but somehow they found it and I took it down.

[@naomi.cannibal]

Now that’s just messed up, but I’ve heard about Abraham doing that. I’ve heard he’s especially gone after Etsy shops and vendors and things too, bc they’re making money. But then they have the nerve to slap her face on cheap gas station cups like she’s a cartoon character. The makeup line was a pretty nice tribute tho

[@JeffreyAvilesArt]

@@naomi.cannibal not the cheap gas station cups!! 🤣 yeah they always have the same tired march. They could even link up with latino artists too to make some cool merchandise but whatevs 🥲

[@6cooch9]

Such an amazing video essay! It also gives me old school KZbin vibes but in the best way possible. You gained a new fan :)

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you so much ♥️

[@milanesadearsenico]

You're gorgeous Naomi! Also love your Spanish pronunciation lol, sometimes I get mad hearing other youtubers not even searching how to pronounce stuff

[@dokiepkosa]

Oh man, I’d looooove maybe another video about Selena. Not sure how I feel about the issue, but I understand both perspectives and I appreciated the video!

[@booitsjohnny]

Great video, this was immensely interesting! I'm not sure how I feel about it, I don't find it problematic really, but it is kind of odd to create your career based on looking like someone. I think for the majority there is some psychological vanity going on there...

[@greatgatsby8917]

Living in someone’s shadow is hard to grow out of and easy to get lost in

[@weewooweewoo906]

i was in celebrity lookalikes section of my high school yearbook for lorde. it was literally just the hair lmao

[@nebulafeelsbetter]

i totally agree with this! love these types of videos you're doing naomi 💖keep it up!

[@naomi.cannibal]

Thank you so much!!

[@minzyGG]

I can kinda see the purpose pre-globalisation and internet. Like, if you wanted to see an iconic performer like Michael Jackson or Dolly, it would’ve been much easier (and cheaper) to see an impersonator, especially if they were a celebrity that had passed on, like Elvis. But now…I’d wonder to what extent it’s necessary.

[@nelumboandrews6762]

Naomicannibal people dont give you enough flowers for how well constructed this you mot only examine the impersonator vrs the celeb but also the standom vrs the impersonator. That dynamic is lesser examined but so importnat. I feel like many of the comments passivley take the side of the stans not realizing that that relationship to the celebrity is on the hot seat as well. While watching i asked why the stans harrass the impersonator some out of cringe some out of jelousy but probably other reasons as well greay video

[@naomi.cannibal]

I love this comment so much thank you

[@Sourcandy333]

Paige using her Ariana cosplay for sex work is where Ariana needs to step in and take legal action

[@melanino]

I mean, a part of me feels for some of the impersonators. Imagine all your life you are told you remind them of someone more popular, considered more pretty and successful person. Then you get money just for looking like them, then they hate you for looking too much like them and they want you to just stop looking like the celebrity. Basically to stop existing because you shouldn't take the place of the "real one". Feels like a heck of a imposter syndrome problem they could develop.

[@goldenlioness868]

I always hear from people that I look like Halle Berry. Even though I get the likeness, and that fact that we are both Leo’s (me:July, her: August) it still makes me feel uncomfortable because it makes me feel like people can’t see me for who I am. They only see her. I am my own person. To me it doesn’t feel flattering, it makes me feel invisible.

[@the-berries-and-cream-dude]

it's gotta affect the person to some psychological level to be impersonating someone all the time. So many actors who portray real people for a movie come out saying that it affected them and they started feeling like they were losing they identity and they only do it for a few months. how does it affect these people who do it for years and are only known as that.

[@do_cs]

she's on a roll this week! good for you! don't forget to rest

[@naomi.cannibal]

It’s my birthday weekend!! Will definitely be doing that💕

[@do_cs]

​@@naomi.cannibal have a lovely birthdayyyyyyyyy

[@naomi.cannibal]

@@do_cs thank youuu!

[@neavax]

will there be a part two? i rly liked this video

[@naomi.cannibal]

Honestly I thought about it! I had fun making this one so I might

[@neavax]

@@naomi.cannibal it’d be super cool if you do. no pressure tho

[@somo9884]

I agree. This was a creative video idea!

[@makball6478]

i find it interesting that this is all women. there is a band called Zoso that does tours every year and makes a living off of dressing up and covering Led Zepplin songs and I've only ever heard about how talernted they are for being able to replicate such complicated music. Everything about the show is carefully curated to make the audience member believe that the realband is on stage. They do costumes, the double neck guitar, etc, but they also use deceptive lighting and are selective on only choosing venues that add to the time travel experience. It's just odd, the ariana grandeOF thing is another level of violation tho.

[@Slm99]

To be fair, many celebrities look alike and I am talking worldwide, so I am not surprised about people trying to profit from the famous person they resemble. I think that there are eight actresses that look like Margot Robbie. I am in the middle of it I definitely agree that we treat celebrities as gods or divine figures when they are human like the rest of us.

[@vrmonsi]

people say I look like the weekend and lil baby but the two dont even look alike. itll be creepy trying to reenact either imo

[@savannaaah]

Ok… continuing to cosplay as an artist even though the artist THEMSELVES say that they don’t like it is beyond wild. And then making friends with people based off of the hate they all get for looking like the artist? AND THEN saying that you’re not a fan of them anymore while STILL cosplaying them? That’s an obsession and a trauma bond. I really hope she gets help 😞

[@lachanclita5907]

Dude the Selena impersonators are out of control fr

[@MoonLight-sugarplum]

New subscriber here, i am so GLAD that the algorithm actually sent me an AMAZING content creator. That's you, babe! Now i will binge watch all your videos

[@haileys5224]

I had no idea how young that Ari impersonator was! The internet has no business constantly taking the piss outta her. Also why is nobody talking about how 19 is a bit young to be making sexually explicit content. I think the people who subscribe to it are weirdos fs.

[@myyoutube5601]

Honestly people have always done this, so many people performing as celebrities, drag queens as well. It just depends on how they act while doing it! If they are respectful and try to represent the celebrity well, I don't see an issue. I felt bad for the Ariana girl at first since she is so young, and still do, but OnlyFans and dressing as SOMEONE ELSE is just terrifying, almost reminds me of revenge p**n!

[@annakabibe615]

Around 2017 I used to get Dua Lipa a lot but I feel it was only because we both had a short bob haircut at the time, and she had just become a sensation with her debut album so people were comparing her to everyone, but I don’t get it as often anymore

[@jesusaceves3893]

I just think it sucks that you already have hate coming at you, but then the artist comes and shades you at the same time, and that makes the fans even more outraged and even start saying people should off themselves. The artist has a lot of power, so I feel like sometimes I get why the backlash and same time I'm like just let it go famous person but then you see this girl doing onlyfans as Ariana and it's disrespectful and disturbing so I get both sides at the end is what I'm trying to say

[@samirsaleh2889]

I think we’re ALL Ariana lookalikes.

[@ensulalachance8353]

😂😂😂

[@neonlighter75]

We're ALL comedians here

[@neb.9489]

Please retire this joke. It’s old.

[@Pink_pr1ncess]

Happy New Year 2018 🎉 recycling old jokes and canceling people again

[@Pink_pr1ncess]

@@neb.9489 literally these people are stuck in 2018

[@rockyrickhards3912]

People always say I look like Brad Mondo or the skater boy from Clueless. I say I look like Marilyn Monroe or Lindsey Lohan.

[@MK-hh1vo]

I would not want people getting paid to imitate me while doing whatever. The only single case where this is acceptable is if *the celebrity personally hires* someone to be a body double. People randomly doing this on their own to earn money or just for fun (beyond Halloween) is beyond creepy imo.

[@kadigarajih9260]

It’s very creepy to be living as someone else

[@Babygirllivecam]

Especially if they are not alive

[@DS___]

I love how unique your video topics always are.. my celebrity look-a-like is the model Precious Lee.. I get it all the time ❤ I'm not mad tho because I love her and think she's gorgeous

[@amandaredd3057]

Dang that Michael Jackson dude had that slide down fr