Ariana Grande says she is ready to speak her mind again.
“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, I would defend myself,” the pop star explained in an interview with Zane Lowe, “and then people would be like, ‘well, she’s a diva.’”
Grande said reactions to what she said made her question herself. “Should I not express myself anymore? Should I not have this fight that I want to have anymore? Should I just say OK and let it be? It kind of f**ks you up a little bit,” she explained.
The singer added: “I’m trying also to say ‘f**k that.’ I’m tired of seeing women silenced by it. I’m trying to let go of that trauma 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.”
Grande said there is an obvious double standard.
"Because I have an opinion about something that has been completely…whatever. Or if I have 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, it always was in the past kind of manipulated and turned into this negative thing,” she said. “Whereas I don’t see this with men. When men express their opinions or defend themselves or are directing something and making notes on something, they’re brilliant or geniuses.
“It’s so not the same thing with women, which I hope we can work on fixing."