When you read the name “Ariana Grande,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Victorious? Sam and Cat? Even the infamous #donutgate? No matter what your first association with the petite pop star is, I’m here to tell you you’re not appreciating Ariana Grande nearly enough. When you think about it, she really is one of the most remarkable celebrities of our generation.
Ariana possesses a kindness that is uncommon at best in today’s world. The owner of five rescue dogs, she tirelessly advocates for animal rights, using her platform to speak about issues like poaching and being a vegan. “Absolutely shatters my heart how somebody could toss an innocent creature aside like that,” she recalls when speaking about her adopted animals. “Nothing hurts my heart more.” Describing the day she adopted her chihuahua mix as “the happiest day of her life,” Ariana is a friend to animals everywhere.
Just because she spends a lot of time with animals doesn’t mean she neglects her human friends, though! Ariana’s older brother is Frankie Grande, LGBT activist and social media mogul of Big Brother 16. In late 2014, Ariana revealed that she left the Catholic Church and turned to Kabbalah (a Jewish tradition) after the rejected her brother for being gay. She states:
“When you see someone you love hurting, for such a superficial, bullshit reason, it’s like, how small and spiritually unenlightened and dumb as fuck can a person be? How much further can your head get up your ass that you’re actually judging someone as a person based on their sexuality before you even have a conversation with them?”
But Ariana’s LGBTQ activism doesn’t end there; she’s performed at several pride parades as well as pushed for the legalization of same-sex marriage. She’s gone above and beyond to support the community, something a lot of stars claim to do without backing it up.
In addition to being an advocate for people on the LGBTQ spectrum, Ariana is also a very outspoken feminist. Her latest album is titled “Dangerous Woman,” after a quote from renowned feminist writer Nawal El Saadawi: “"They said, 'You are a savage and dangerous woman.' I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous." She also does not hesitate to call out others on their problematic behavior; when asked if she would rather use her phone or her makeup one last time, she responded, "I have a long list of things I'd like to change … I think, judgement in general. Intolerance, meanness, double standards, misogyny, racism, sexism. You know, all that shit. There's lots we've got to get started on. That's what we need to focus on. We've got work to do."
She spoke out in defense of Kesha on several occasions, also commenting on unfair double standards in the media:
“I am tired of living in world where women are mostly referred to as a man's past, present or future PROPERTY / POSSESSION. I … do not. Belong. To Anyone. But myself. And neither do you … I can't wait to live in a world where people are not valued by who they're dating/ married/ attached to, having sex with (or not)/ seen with … but by their value as an individual.”
Whether you enjoy her music or not, it’s impossible to deny that Ariana Grande is an intelligent, compassionate, engaging young woman. If more stars followed her example and used their privilege to help others, the world would be a much better place.
