In a candid interview with Vanity Fair, pop sensation Ariana Grande opened up about her complicated relationship with her fiercely loyal fanbase. But the Wicked star surprised many when she confessed that sometimes, she’s not always feeling the love.
“I love my fans so much. I will always love them, but I think sometimes they can hurt me. And sometimes… I don’t like them. But I still love them! Does that even make sense?” Ariana laughed, balancing honesty and affection. She continued, “I think it’s a difficult relationship. It’s like, socially, it feels real for me. It’s hard at times, but I still love them.”
One of the more “ouch” moments Ariana referred to happened after she released her album Eternal Sunshine. Things got a bit stormy when she found herself needing to send a PSA to her fans, pleading with them not to bash anyone who’d ever been involved in her life. The context? Grande had recently separated from her husband, Dalton Gomez, and rumors swirled about her dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater—a situation that had its own, shall we say, personal drama.
“I just want to say that anyone sending hateful messages to people in my life based on how you interpret this album is not supporting me. I’m asking you to stop. That’s not how you show love to me—it’s quite the opposite,” Ariana warned her fans at the time.
The tension between loving her fans and dealing with the occasional headache they cause is a tricky balancing act for Ariana. But, through it all, she remains grateful and loyal to her fans—even if sometimes they might need a little time-out!
It’s clear Ariana Grande knows the struggle of being adored by millions while also needing to protect her peace. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding that balance between love and self-preservation.
