On Sunday, recording artist Ariana Grande published a rare political commentary to her social media audience of approximately 523 million followers.
Ms. Grande, age 32, who has previously expressed support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election and for Bernie Sanders in 2020, reposted content from podcaster Matt Bernstein, directing pointed criticism toward supporters of former President Donald J. Trump during his second term in office.
In the post, Ms. Grande questioned whether such supporters considered themselves better off after approximately 250 days of the administration, referencing immigration policies, treatment of transgender individuals, and perceived threats to free speech. She further inquired whether there had been measurable improvements in areas such as food prices, healthcare premiums, work-life balance, and overall wellbeing.
The commentary elicited significant engagement from her followers, with many expressing agreement and amplifying her message across other platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).
Public reaction to Ariana Grande’s recent political commentary has been mixed. Some supporters praised her for exercising her right to free speech, while others criticized her views, with a subset of detractors revisiting her 2015 incident at a California donut shop in which she was recorded making disparaging remarks about America and engaging in conduct that drew a reprimand from health officials.
The singer’s post followed her prior amplification of a statement by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who had called for impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump after an unauthorized military strike.
Ms. Grande has a documented history of advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, Palestinian rights, reproductive rights, and voter registration initiatives.
Professionally, Ms. Grande is scheduled to reprise her role as Galinda Upland in Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Jon M. Chu’s 2024 adaptation of the Broadway musical. The production, budgeted at approximately $150 million, is set for release in the United States and the United Kingdom on November 21 and will feature returning cast members including Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Ethan Slater.
Ms. Grande and Mr. Slater, a Tony Award-nominated actor, began a relationship during production of Wicked in 2022. At the time, Mr. Slater was still legally married to Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a son. Their divorce was finalized in September 2023. In public statements, Ms. Jay described the circumstances as emotionally difficult.
Despite controversy surrounding their relationship, Ms. Grande continues to maintain both a significant public profile and a wide following.#newsafro_
