Ariana Grande defends herself against 'diva' accusations
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Ariana Grande is setting the record straight about her perceived image in the eyes of social media.
The 26-year-old pop and R&B superstar spoke candidly with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe on Wednesday and opened up about her decision to step away from the spotlight by refusing to do interviews for a period of time.
"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 blah, blah, blah, I would defend myself. And then, people would be like, 'Oh, she's a diva,'" she explained. "I was like, 'This doesn't make any sense.'"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
ARIANA GRANDE AND JUSTIN BIEBER ANNOUNCE NEW SONG, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
The “7 Rings” songstress told Lowe that she felt many of her remarks throughout the years have been misconstrued to an extent and took umbrage with the idea that she didn’t see the same criticism directed at men that she had received for simply voicing her “opinion about something.”
"It always was in the past manipulated and turned into this negative thing, whereas I don't see that with men," she said. "It's like when men express their opinions or defend themselves or are directing something and making notes on something, they're brilliant. And they're genius at it."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
TAYLOR SWIFT, ARIANA GRANDE SEND DONATIONS TO FANS AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS
"And yet, it's just so not the same thing with women, which I hope we can work on fixing," she continued. "And of course that's not always the case. It's not always that way. But it does make... you want to quiet down a little bit."
In moving forward in her personal journey for acceptance of self, Grande said she’s working on becoming numb to the negativity strewn in her direction by developing a “f--k that” attitude, since she’s grown tired of “seeing women silenced.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"I think there's this thing where we'll hear something, or be, 'Oh, she said this.' And then it really sits with you. And you feel like, 'Oh wow. 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?'" Grande said. "And then it kind of f--ks you up a little bit."
CELEBRITIES PROVIDE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RELIEF WITH DONATIONS
The Grammy-winner continued: "Of course, it's not an all-the-time thing. But it is definitely still prominent. But I'm trying to just say, 'f--k it' and 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. And I'm working on becoming that."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
And despite recently releasing the single “Stuck with U” with fellow pop star Justin Bieber for charity, Grande told the program there’s no chance she’s dropping a new project anytime soon.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"There's nothing to tell. I'm not putting one out. I've been making stuff. I've been making a lot of stuff, but that's not where my head is at right now,” she said.