What do you guys think of Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman,” the first single from her new album of the same name? She released it in March, and while it’s a popular single, it feels like it’s not as big as Ariana’s previous hits. Also, it’s not a great song at all. Half of the lyrics are unintelligible because she refuses to enunciate. Maah-minnniz-ah-pennnn…
Anyway, Ariana covers the latest issue of Billboard to promote the album and more. This is also Ariana’s shot at rebranding herself after a few years where she became known as a diva-baby, a donut-licking, America-bashing a—hole and a total brat. So, what’s the new Ariana like? She’s no drama. She tells you repeatedly that she’s not about the drama. And she has an alter ego named Super Bunny. And she never, ever wants you to refer to her as Big Sean’s Ex. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
Her bunny-eared alter ego, Super Bunny: The Super Bunny “is my superhero, or supervillain — whatever I’m feeling on the day. Whenever I doubt myself or question choices I know in my gut are right — because other people are telling me other things — I’m like, ‘What would that bad bitch Super Bunny do?’ She helps me call the shots.”
Her feminism: “Do you want to see something I saved to my phone because it upset me so much?” she asks me. It’s a collection of tweets from a U.K. radio station with a salacious streak — two praise Justin Bieber and Zayn Malik for showing skin, and two scold Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian for the same. “If you’re going to rave about how sexy a male artist looks with his shirt off and a woman decides to get in her panties or show her boobies for a photo shoot, she needs to be treated with the same awe and admiration. I will say it until I’m an old-ass lady with my t-ts out at Whole Foods. I’ll be in the produce aisle, naked at 95, with a sensible ponytail, one strand of hair left on my head and a Chanel bow. Mark my words. See you there with my 95 dogs.”
Being associated with her ex-boyfriends: “I’ll never be able to swallow the fact that people feel the need to attach a successful woman to a man when they say her name… I saw a headline — draw your own conclusions [on the subjects] because it’ll be so much drama that I don’t want — they called someone another someone’s ex, and that pissed me off. This person has had so many great records in the last year, and she hasn’t been dating him forever. Call her by her name! I hate that. Like, I’m fuming. Sorry. You opened up … I need to take a sip of water and breathe. Don’t get me started on this sh-t.” [Note: she was likely referring to Selena and Bieber]
TV fame versus pop stardom: “When you’re playing a zany character on a kids’ show, people don’t want to vilify you as much. They’re a lot harder on pop artists — they’re unafraid to hurt you.”
On the line from Kanye West’s song, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that bitch famous”:“I’m conflicted. It’s a serious thing to joke about, but at the same time, a lot of artists use humor in their music. I mean, yes, it’s hard to listen to. But I’m obsessed with Kanye’s album. I’m obsessed with Taylor’s album. There are some cringe-worthy topics on his, but it’s part of Kanye. He’s a fantastic artist.”
On the Nicki Minja vs. Taylor Swift drama last year: “If people are fighting, I stay as far away as possible. I’ve said this a million times: I hate drama. I love women in the industry. I’m a big fan of all my peers, and I try to keep it a hundred. That’s why I don’t look at anything. I’m like, ‘My song’s out!’ Then I run for the hills. ‘Here’s another picture of my dogs! Bye!’ ”
I’m going to agree with Ariana on something: it bugs me when media outlets refer to women by their romantic situations, past or present. Like, “Harrison Ford’s ex-wife passes away.” JUST SAY HER NAME. Or “Justin Bieber’s ex has a new song.” Just say Selena Gomez! As for the rest of it… does Dangerous Super Bunny really, really hate the drama? No, she doesn’t. She loves the drama. She just hates when the drama involves other people.
Photos courtesy of Billboard, Ariana’s album cover.
Meh…..if I had four hands, I’ll give her four thumbs down! Not a fan!!!!!!
Why do all celebs make up weird alter egos? It almost gives credence to MK mind control theories. Beyonce has one. Britney has one.
Besides Ariana is far from bad. She is a docile passive woman as far as I can see. Her only claim to fame is licking donuts.
Also male and female nudity are not comparable. Female nudity is more provocative. Mens bodies, unless well maintained, are not typically sexy on there own. In fact they can be downright grotesque. The female body by comparison is a work of art (usually.)
Plus men don’t have a whole culture of oppression around there nudity whereas women do. Plus the naked female thing is done to death. People only celebrate female nudity when the woman is young and beautiful. And the reason it is critiqued is because a lot of women sell themselves short by exposing there bodies rather than there talent.
*standing ovation*
Yes, yes yes.
Any time you use the fact that someone’s a woman as an excuse for why it’s not okay for them to do something (or less okay than a man doing it) you’re discriminating and participating in sexism, not feminism. It’s a double standard. The problem isn’t that men’s nudity and women’s nudity are ‘not comparable’, it’s that people feel more entitled to shame and police women’s choices with their bodies in the name of ‘saving’ us, and have fear-based misogynistic reactions to the thought of women being immodest. There’s a culture of oppression behind women avoiding choices other people consider ‘slutty’ too, but I’m sure you wouldn’t use that as an excuse for why women who choose to abstain from ‘slutty’/immodest physical appearance choices and save sex for the most committed relationships deserve criticism for their choice that men don’t get. There’s a culture of oppression around a lot of areas of life for women, but that’s not an excuse for sexism toward us. The exposing your body instead of your talent is also a shaky argument (and not to mention a false dichotomy) because even when women who expose their talent AND choose to be immodest, they usually get the same exact arguments thrown at them as the non-talented women who choose not to be modest.
I swear these interview all literally say the same thing.
Yeah, I’ve pretty much had to stop reading the teen and twenty-something interviews. Once you’ve read one, you’ve read them all.
She looks like a bafoon on that album cover. Every time I see it I laugh a little. How was that approved. She is cross eyed.
She is such a silly little twit.
*shrug* She’s gorgeous and talented to boot. Her SNL episode was easily the best on this year.
and the interview wasn’t bad at all. she is consistent and makes sense. this chick is really growing on me.
I really do not like her. But she I have to agree 100% with your comment. Especially regarding SNL, she was *excellent*.
Alter ego is her euphemism for not taking responsibility and bad behavior. This is your life not an RPG. Own your actions good and bad. It’s called life experience.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t understand what she is singing have the time.
I find her sexy baby aesthetic grotesque.
It’s like she’s trying to be a lolita like Britney when she broke out but Brit just had an IT factor. Ariana just seems…..meh.
This girl is so try hard.
*whispers* I think the album is actually pretty good
*hides under table*
Me too. Her lolita schtick and her personality are grating but I think her music is, for the most part, alright.
Nope. Not buying it.
She’s still a “diva-baby, a donut-licking, America-bashing a—hole and a total brat.”
“I will say it until I’m an old-ass lady with my t-ts out at Whole Foods. I’ll be in the produce aisle, naked at 95, with a sensible ponytail, one strand of hair left on my head and a Chanel bow. Mark my words. See you there with my 95 dogs.”
Ariana just succeeded in making me like her. Hadn’t happened up to this point. 😀
I liked that statement too. She can sing like a lark but seems weirdly childlike to me which must be hugely irritating to her
“Dangerous Woman”? Are you fkg KIDDING me? She’s an infant. She has nothing dangerous to say for at LEAST ten more years *yawn*
Bad bitch super bunny? Bit of an oxymoron. This young lady is super weird. She may be growing on me a bit. She just seems so unapologetically odd.
That is the dumbest album cover. She may have a decent voice, but her personality sucks.
Her alter ego is actually a miniature poodle – lots of hair and annoying high-pitched yap.
The donut licker? That’s all I think when I see her.
And stars have alter-egos because fame is an unnatural and unhealthy proposition that getting overpaid tonnes of money per job doesn’t make any less unnatural and unhealthy. It’s bad for everyone and if people could accept that, the rest would make a lot more sense.