Ariana Grande Says ‘Evil’ Tabloids ‘Have Been Trying to Destroy Me Since I Was 19,’ Calls Out Backlash Over ‘Wicked’ Voice: ‘When a Male Actor’ Transforms, ‘It’s Acclaimed’

As a seasoned movie enthusiast with decades of industry observation under my belt, I must say that Ariana Grande‘s journey through Hollywood is nothing short of inspiring. Her latest role as Glinda the Good in “Wicked” showcases her versatility and dedication to her craft.


Ariana Grande teamed up with her “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo for Vanity Fair’s cover, and she responded to those who criticized her speaking voice, which became lighter and more airy while working on and after filming the upcoming Universal musical adaptation. The multiple Grammy winner portrays Glinda the Good in “Wicked” and spent almost two years shooting this project.

Grande acknowledged that there are areas where people might not fully understand the skills involved in changing one’s voice, whether it’s for singing, acting roles with different accents, or creating character voices in various projects,” said Grande, addressing the frequent criticism she faced about her lighter Glinda speaking voice online.

She also noted that when a male actor delivers a performance, it’s often highly praised. There are indeed jokes involved, but the praise usually comes first: ‘Wow, he really got into the role.’ This is just part of the profession, she said. It’s an age-old story – being a woman in this industry means being treated differently and constantly scrutinized more than some others.

Criticism of Grande’s speaking voice reached its peak over the summer when a clip of her slipping into different registers during an interview on Penn Badgley’s “Podcrushed” podcast went viral on social media. The singer took to TikTok at the time to confront the mockery by writing: “I intentionally change my vocal placement (high/low) often depending on how much singing i’m doing,” she wrote. “I’ve always done this BYE.”

Grande shared with Vanity Fair her immense pride regarding her voice, stating, ‘I’m truly pleased about it.’ She also mentioned that one reason she chose to participate on TikTok was because she takes great pride in the hard work she put into her role and the dedication she demonstrated, including her physical efforts. She’s proud of this accomplishment and wanted to safeguard it.

The buzz surrounding her speaking voice isn’t a new experience for Grande; she’s faced similar challenges in public opinion throughout her entire career.

Grande expressed that the ups and downs in her professional journey have been challenging to manage mentally. She started off as a friendly, humorous redhead on Nickelodeon who was well-liked by many. But after achieving too much success with multiple hit records, people began perceiving her as an arrogant diva. Later, more unfortunate events occurred, and suddenly she was seen as both a hero and a victim.

To be truthful, it’s required a great deal of effort to persist this long and mend certain aspects of my connection with fame and my profession, given the gossip magazines that have been attempting to bring me down since I was 19. However, let me tell you something? I am now 31 years old, and although I’m not perfect, I am genuinely good-hearted, and I’m proud of the person I’m evolving into. I will never allow untrustworthy, malicious tabloids to negatively impact my life or my understanding of what is genuine and beneficial.

Visit Vanity Fair’s official site to delve into Ariana Grande’s complete cover story. The musical “Wicked” is set to premiere in cinemas nationwide on November 22, distributed by Universal Pictures.

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2024-09-30 18:17