Ariana Grande is a great singer whose star is on the rise. She’s even been compared to Mariah Carey – a great honour which you must never, ever bring up in an interview (or she’ll walk out). However, a rise to the top doesn’t come easy, and for Ariana, it has meant that she’s had to play up the whole sex kitten image that clearly doesn’t suit her and that no one in their right mind believes, especially considering she looks about 12 years old (but that’s one of about 5,000 reasons).
Anyhoo, one star who’s been there and done that and has some words of advice for Ariana is Bette Midler. You see, she wants Ariana know that she doesn’t need to be a whore to be famous.
Via TMZ:
Midler did an interview with The Telegraph, grousing about the state of the music biz. She’s particularly disgusted with Grande, saying, “It’s always surprising to see someone like Ariana Grande with that silly high voice, a very wholesome voice, slithering around on a couch.”
Midler goes on, “… Looking so ridiculous. I mean it’s silly beyond belief and I don’t know who’s telling her to do it.”
And then the punch. In giving advice to aspiring singers, Midler says, “Trust your talent. You don’t have to make a whore out of yourself to get ahead.”
Huh. Well, look – I see where Bette’s coming from. The oversexualization of female popstars is absolutely fucking ridiculous and exhausting and it literally has zero effect anymore because it’s so overdone. However, Bette was into some pretty raunchy shit in the ’70s herself – maybe done a bit more tongue-in-cheek, but still… Also, we don’t need any more slut-shaming, regardless of how much older and wiser Bette might be now. So yeah, I can see both sides of the coin here. I wish women didn’t feel pressured to strip off and be this coquettish, cartoonish version of a seductress all the time. That being said, if that’s what someone legit WANTS to do, more power to ’em. It’s complicated!
In other news, Bette would like Ariana to get off her lawn.
You’ve GOT to be joking. A great singer who nobody believes her sex kitten image. Her voice hovers in the dog-whistle range. She wears cat ears. She dresses like a baby hookah. And you better BELIEVE people, specifically men of a certain age and demographic (hint: rhymes with smedophile) are buying her act. Gross.
And while I don’t think that she is even coming up with this image, she is certainly selling it, and Ms. Midler is not wrong. Mostly because Bette Midler can never be wrong. But she shouldn’t shame pseudo-sex-workers either.
*starts*slow*clap*
Bette should do more interviews like this one. If you’re acting like a hobag, you will be addressed as one. Hollywood needs mory classy ladies. Nothing wrong with a lil high slit or deep neck plunge, short skirt or classy nudes. But all of those butt injections, neons, twerkish dance moves and what not need to go back to the ratchett place they came from.
the way to call a bitch out Bette. :)
Ariana doesn’t seem to be in charge of her sexuality whereas Bette may have done some provocative stuff in her day, always seemed as if SHE was the one guiding that. Ariana doesn’t look like she doesn’t know the definition of sexy, and is too young to really grasp it. She seems to be that type that isn’t able to distinguish between slutty Lolita and genuine sex appeal.
Also, it might not be a crack on Ariana as much as it is the music business, the men in the music business and their hyper-sexualization of a girl who’s too young and too stupid to know any better.
Bravo! Totally. Yup yup, nail on head.
God always with the slut shaming. She’s acting like a slut and Bette says it like it is and now she’s shaming her?! No, she telling facts.
I feel that Bette is only looking out for her as she gives Ariana more credit then she gives herself within her presentation. Yes Bette was and is provocative, but presentation is everything. Awareness of how you are perceived to others by reflecting on your actions on a respectful level. The reflection from Bette to Ariana will most likely only be appreciated instead of taken in offense when the girl is old enough to understand that she is more than what people see or portray. We know that, Bette knows that, but Bette only wanted to make sure that Ariana understood that too. <3 Bette and Ariana Much love to both beautiful ladies.