Fans of singer Ariana Grande were put off by a question asked of the singer while she chat on the red carpet interview at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
The Boca Raton, Florida-born singer-actress, 31, talked with Access Hollywood about her role as Glinda in the box office smash Wicked, for which she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Musical or Comedy.
Grande was asked who the first person she called was after she was offered the role, to which she said her mother, Joan Grande, 67.
The reporter for the TV show asked her, ‘Is your grandmother still alive,’ which Grande took in stride, responding, ‘Yes, my Nonna, she’s 99; Nonna was second.’
While Grande did not seem upset by the nature of the question, a number of her fans on social media felt otherwise, criticizing the reporter’s line of questioning and tone.
‘What happened to interviewers doing research before they ask questions,’ one fan asked, while another asked, ‘What did she just say?’
Another fan asked, ‘Why would she ask it like that,’ while another observed, ‘That is such a risky question, why would she ask that.’
Another user pointed out how much worse the exchange could have been, asking, ‘What was she gonna do if she said no.’
One user said they felt the reporter was trying to ask ‘a genuine question,’ while another said: ‘I don’t think it’s that deep, just a clumsy/insensitive move from the journalist.’
A user said the nature of the question was not appropriate for a red carpet exchange, noting, ‘That’s a question for after the second bottle of wine.’
One fan praised Grande, who lost in her category to Emilia Perez’s Zoe Saldana, for having ‘handled [the question] with grace.’
The Grammy-winning singer has past featured her grandmother Marjorie Grande in her work, as Marjorie performed on her famed granddaughter’s 2024 track ordinary things from her album Eternal Sunshine.
A fan referred to the collab, noting the reporter ‘obviously didn’t listen to nonna’s top 100 hit ordinary things.’
Another user added that a dose of politeness could have averted any potential awkwardness: ‘What happened to saying “hows your grandma?”‘
Grande attended the high-profile award season event clad in a silk yellow 1966 Givenchy Haute Couture gown which had a bodice crafted with hand-beaded patterns.
Grande rounded out he luxe ensemble with white opera gloves and a Swarovski crystal choker with earrings, with her blonde locks styled back.
Marjorie – who will turn 100-years-old this upcoming October 12 – has past accompanied Ariana to award shows, including the Time gala in 2016, the American Music Awards in 2015 and the MTV Video Music Awards in 2014.
In a 2014 interview with the Today show, Marjorie said she knew Ariana was a talent from a young age.
She recalled how she suggested Ariana try out to play Annie in a local Boca Raton, Florida production of the famed musical.
Said Marjorie: ‘I said you know, Ariana could do that. She became the star. She auditioned and she became Annie.’
