Ariana Grande reacts to negative comments about her voice changes
Ariana Grande has addressed negative comments about the changes in her speaking voice, saying such are natural for singers, especially those who have a wide vocal range.
"I did just spend a long time playing a character every single day," she said in an interview on the Shut Up Evan podcast with Evan Ross Katz on July 9, referring to her role (Glinda) in the upcoming film adaptation of Broadway musical Wicked.
"[I trained] my voice to do different things for a long time before leaving for London and before any of this. Muscle memory is a real thing," she continued.
Ariana went on to tell the public that her voice changes resulted from her "full-time commitment" to her vocal health.
"[It is] a full time commitment and it's a lifestyle. it's not something you can f**k around with," she said.
She added, "It's your lifeline, it's your instrument, and it's something that you can take out of a box and put back. This needs to be thought about 24/7."
The No More Tears To Cry singer also talked about how male performers are treated differently when they accidentally stay in character after filming.
"Sure, people make jokes here and there as well, but it's always after the fact, 'Oh wow, how dedicated to his craft! What an amazing transformation! He's a brilliant performer!'" she said. "But then it's like, god forbid I sneeze like Glinda."
The 31-year-old Grammy award winner has been the subject of criticism for the drastic changes in her voice. Last month, she explained that she intentionally alters her voice for the sake of her vocal health and to break any vocal habits.
"I intentionally change my vocal placement (high / low) often depending on how much singing I'm doing," she wrote in the comments section of a TikTok video. "I've always done this BYE."
Ariana has been chosen to portray Glinda, also known as the Good Witch of the South, in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked. She's joined by Cynthia Erivo, who will play Elphaba, the complex and misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West.
Also part of the cast are Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University's regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, a mischievous and carefree prince; Ethan Slater as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.
Helmed by Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu, Wicked: Part One opens in cinemas on Nov. 27. Wicked: Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2025.