Ariana Grande has opened up how being labelled a “diva” had a negative impact on her because of its sexist connotations.
Speaking to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the singer explained how being called a “diva” even led her to stop doing interviews for a while.
“I felt like whenever I would get into a position where somebody would try to say something for clickbait or twist my words or blah, blah, blah, I would defend myself. And then, people would be like, ‘Oh, she’s a diva’,” Grande said.
“I was like, ‘This doesn’t make any sense.’
“Because I have an opinion about something that was an opinion artistically or if I am directing something, or if I have something to say regarding a choice that’s being made with my career or something, blah, blah, blah, it always was in the past manipulated and turned into this negative thing, whereas I don’t see that with men.”
The 26-year-old musician continued by addressing the double standards with regards to how men are praised for expressing their opinions when women are often scrutinised.
“It’s just so not the same thing with women, which I hope we can work on fixing,” she added.
“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*** that.’ You know what I mean? I’m tired of seeing women silenced by it.”
Grande continued: ”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.”
