"It's an insult to a strong female energy"- When Ariana Grande opened up about being labeled a diva

The multi-talented pop sensation, Ariana Grande, has had her fair share of success and struggles in the spotlight. From topping the charts with her powerful vocals to facing personal tragedies, Grande has always been candid about her journey. However, today, we look back at the time when she opened up about how being labeled a diva profoundly impacted her well-being rather negatively.

Ariana Grande, in a 2020 interview with Apple Music's Beats 1 host Zane Lowe, talked extensively about Rihanna to Mac Miller while curating an At Home playlist for his radio show. It is here that she mentions how problematic and sexist it is for her to be called a diva as it made her reconsider how much time she devotes to interviews and social media promotions, in general. She says:

"It's funny because you bring that up. I stopped doing interviews for a really long time because I felt like whenever I would get into a position where somebody would try to say something for clickbait or twist my words or I would defend myself and then, people would be like, 'Oh, she's a diva. I was like, This doesn't make any sense. It is an insult to female energy."

Grande brings to the table a stark reminder of the detrimental effects of public perception. During her conversation with Lowe, Grande lays out the industry's tendency to promote stereotypes and set unrealistic standards for its performers.

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Ariana Grande is tired of seeing women silenced by the term 'diva'

Ariana Grande's rise to fame was nothing short of meteoric. With her incredible vocal range and catchy tunes, she became a household name in the music industry. But with fame came tabloid stories and media scrutiny, and that is when she got the diva label—a pejorative phrase for people who are difficult to work with because they have high standards.

In her interview with Lowe, he adds that the term "diva" is flung around and entirely misunderstood, whereas "diva energy" should simply be about taking control. Grande responds that diva energy translates to an opinion, determination, and artistic integrity. She highlights the disparity in how bossy men and strong women are viewed in the profession. Grande says:

"It's like when men express their opinions or defend themselves: 'Oh, he's being a boss. Oh, he's taking control.' And yet, it's just so not the same thing with women, which I hope we can work on fixing. And of course that's not always the case. It's not always that way. But it does make it kind of... It makes you want to quiet down a little bit. But I'm trying to also say, 'f*ck that.' You know what I mean? I'm tired of seeing women silenced by it."

Grande continues:

”And then it kind of f***s you up a little bit. Because I do have a lot to say, and I do enjoy talking to people. And I do want to do interviews and share with people, and not be afraid to be myself. And I’m working on becoming that.”

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The full interview of At Home with Ariana Grande Radio Show is available on Apple Music.