Ariana Grande Responds to Fan Criticism Over Her Wicked Casting

Ariana Grande Is Using Her Real Name successful 'Wicked' Credits

Ariana Grande understands that she wasn’t needfully a fashionable prime to play Glinda successful Wicked.

The 31-year-old opened up astir her past with the deed Broadway philharmonic and her passionateness for playing the pink-loving “good” witch successful the movie adaptation other Cynthia Erivo successful the relation of Elphaba.

“It has to beryllium earned, thing connected this scale,” Ariana said connected the Nov. 1 occurrence of the Sentimental Men podcast. “Of course, it’s Wicked, that’s the astir respectable thing. That has to beryllium earned!”

However, she understands why Wicked fans might not invited the casting news.

“Going off of ‘Side to Side,’ I astir apt would’ve said the aforesaid thing," she said. "I astir apt would’ve said, ‘Why the f--k? Kill me. I’ve waited 20 years for this. Kill me.’ I would’ve said that arsenic a instrumentality from the outside, knowing of lone ‘7 Rings.' I’d say, ‘Well, that’s bulls--t.’ So, you know, I get it.”

The “thank u, next” singer added that though immoderate mightiness comprehend her stardom arsenic an advantage, she felt otherwise.

“I deliberation it’s the opposite, it tin enactment against maine successful definite ways,” she explained. “When you person this caricaturized persona retired determination and radical cognize you arsenic this 1 thing. Is this idiosyncratic going to beryllium capable to erase that and vanish into this character?”

In 2021, Ariana went done respective rounds of auditions for the highly anticipated relation and even got the blessing of actress Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the relation connected the stage. In fact, Ariana shared that Kristin burst into tears erstwhile she told her she planned to audition for Glinda.

“She was like, ‘I was hoping this would happen. I emotion you and I spot you, babe girl,’” Ariana recalled. “’Just bash your thing. You’re truthful comic and you person large instincts, and nary 1 knows that. You’re gonna backmost doorway ‘em.’”

Wicked hits theaters Nov. 22.

For a archetypal look at Ariana’s relation successful the film, work on.