Ariana Grande addresses backlash that she's exploiting LGBTQ community

Taryn Ryder
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Ariana Grande heard some of the criticism after she was announced as the headliner for Manchester Pride, and she’s offering a rebuttal.

The 25-year-old singer was slammed by some for agreeing to participate in the August event as a straight performer — and the fact ticket prices skyrocketed following the announcement didn’t help. On Wednesday, she replied to one detractor directly and shared a lengthy message addressing the backlash.

First, the “7 Rings” singer tweeted she has “nothing to do with ticket pricing,” which is set by organizers. As for the bigger issue around her association with the LGBTQ community, Grande went on to call her connection to many of her fans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer as “so special.”

“I want to celebrate and support this community, regardless of my identity or how people label me. And also I wanna visit a city that means so much to me,” she wrote. This will be Grande’s second performance in Manchester following the May 2017 bombing at her concert. She returned to the city two weeks later for her “One Love Manchester” charity show to honor the victims and families of those killed and injured.

Grande went on to call LGBTQ representation “incredibly important,” adding, “I do think there’s room for us to talk about these issues without equating a performance *for* an LGBTQ audience with exploitation of the LGBTQ community.”

Other straight allies, such as Cher and Kylie Minogue, have headlined pride events over the years, something Grande points out. The “Thank U, Next” singer added that she respects those of the opinion that she doesn’t “deserve to be offered this spot,” but noted she accepted the offer “excitedly and gratefully.”

“I’m not claiming to be the hero of the community or the face of the LGQTQ rights movement — I just wanna put on a show that makes my LGBTQ fans feel special and celebrated and supported,” she concluded. “That’s all I wanna do.”

Read Grande’s statement in full below.

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