Opinion | Why can’t Ariana Grande be a musical theater powerhouse and a pop star?

“Wicked” was phenomenal. It was so phenomenal that I had to start getting my thoughts on paper in my parent’s guest room the night after its release — with the newly released soundtrack on in the background, of course. I spent the drive home from the theater spilling all the fun facts and bits of foreshadowing 一 I had been holding my tongue not to point them out in the middle of the film.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m a “Wicked” fanatic. I’ve been anticipating the film adaptation’s release for years on end — since I first got to witness the show live on Broadway when I was 13. I’ve permanently burned the original cast recording into my brain since then, and I could probably recite the entire show forward and backward by now. Even at 20 years old, the last chorus of “Defying Gravity” gives me chills, and “Popular” is my go-to getting ready song.

So when world-famous, ubiquitously recognizable pop star Ariana Grande was chosen to play my favorite character, Glinda, back in 2021, I was slightly skeptical. I, like many others, initially worried that her Nickelodeon acting credits would serve as insufficient experience for the role. I was further concerned that her pop star stature would pop-ify her songs and render her unable to separate herself from the character. My doubts faded as I learned about Grande’s dedication to her performance and the confidence she had earned from the film’s director, so I went into the theater with almost complete faith in her.

Any lingering concerns of mine were dispelled by the end of the first song. Grande was anything but pop-esque — she was operatic, and it was clear that she had put in the work to achieve the voice the role requires. Throughout the film, she both perfectly executed Glinda’s physical comedy and captured the character’s nuances with her dramatic acting skills. From the beginning to the very end, I didn’t feel like I was watching Ariana Grande play Glinda. I was watching an actress step into a role she was born to play.

Grande completely exceeded my expectations and the expectations of critics. So why have so many corners of the internet continued to tear her performance apart over a week after the film’s release?

For years before production began and well beyond, hundreds of Reddit users across the site have complained about Grande incessantly. My own TikTok feed has been flooded with fresh criticism for days. 

Some have accused her of being a marketing cast — implying she was chosen mostly to boost ticket sales and that other, more deserving actresses were passed over because they weren’t famous enough. Both before and after the film was released, people complained about every minute detail of her style and mannerisms they could identify, from the shape of her eyebrows to the way she blinks. They say she was too stiff and didn’t emote enough in the film, yet is too emotional on the press tour. Many of the posts from the 11,000 users on Grande’s hate subreddit use jabs at her personal life to criticize her career, which is not only a non sequitur but downright nasty.

Despite the negativity from the vocal minority, critics, untrained audiences and former Broadway Glindas alike agree that Grande delighted on the silver screen. She did her character justice, and no one can say she didn’t rightfully earn the chance to prove she was capable of doing so. So why do certain internet users seem fixated on their grievances and refuse to acknowledge her merit?

Short answer — people really do hate to see a woman succeed. It’s worth noting that many of these subreddits full of hate towards Grande also contain hateful comments directed toward her costar, Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba. “Wicked”’s male lead Jonathan Bailey receives no such criticism in users’ comments.

Similar patterns emerge with male stars who, like Grande, are famous for their pop music careers but have also taken on serious acting roles. Harry Styles received praise online for his part in the 2017 film “Dunkirk,” with users defending his performance and pointing to the fact that he “auditioned for the role and got it fair and square” — just like Grande did. He certainly faced some criticism for his prior fame, but nowhere near the level that Grande has endured.

On the other hand, the acclaim for Justin Timberlake’s acting career — of NSYNC and solo career fame —  has been abundant. Reddit users call him underrated and a better actor than musician, and generally, he faces little criticism online. The public has allowed him to seamlessly transition from a pop icon to a credible actor without protest or pushback. 

Why can’t Grande be awarded the same opportunity? She’s obviously worked hard to establish herself in the musical theater sphere, but audiences would rather see her stick to what she knows — or rather, what they know her for. It’s a clear reflection of the double standard female celebrities can’t escape when making career moves. Their male counterparts are given the benefit of the doubt while they are criticized at every turn — even when their performances are nothing short of incredible. 

Grace Longworth is TPN’s assistant copy chief who managed to turn her love and excitement for her favorite Broadway show into a feminist argument. You can rave to her about “Wicked” to your heart’s content at GEL69@pitt.edu.