Anyone who follows the Oscar race knows that the competition can get very fierce. During awards season, films can gain or lose prominence, antagonists can emerge and campaigns tend to become intense in an attempt to win one of the coveted golden statuettes. However, moviegoers are not accustomed to the level of hostility that often accompanies the world of pop music. Now, they are living this experience.
This year, two major pop stars take on prominent roles in notable films, both in the musical genre. Ariana Grande shines as the enchanting Glinda, the bad girl in pink, in “Wicked,” while . Although Ariana and Selena have demonstrated cordiality toward each other in the press, their fans — or veritable armies of supporters — have been waging war, inducing even unsuspecting viewers into confrontation.
It is known that people are much more intense than movie lovers. Their loyalty is so unwavering that they don’t think twice before attacking anyone who dares to criticize their favorite stars. The perception of contempt has even led to threats and exposure of personal data. And now, these fans are involved in the Oscar race. And this is generating chaos.
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It’s not as if pop stars have never competed for awards in the film world. Cher and Barbra Streisand say so. More recently, in 2019, Lady Gaga received a nomination for her role in “A Star Is Born.” However, rarely have two pop celebrities clashed as directly as Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. The idea of rivalry intensified even more this week, when both were nominated in the same supporting actress category at the Golden Globes.
Not that Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez appear to have any personal disagreements. In October, in a red carpet interview, Selena Gomez said she was “excited to watch Ariana’s movie.” Afterward, Grande posted on Instagram: “We can’t wait for Emilia Perez,” she added, leaving a message for Gomez: “I just adore you.”
However, seeing the behavior of fans on social media platform X, these kind words could go unnoticed.
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It all started with an attempt to evaluate which of the two was the better actress.
Really,” users began posting out-of-context clips of Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez in the quest to decide who was the “best” actress. One example that went viral asked “Who is winning the acting battle?” in a video that showed two scenes side by side. In Gomez’s sequence, taken from the climax of “Emilia Pérez,” she is covered in dirt and blood. In Grande’s, she’s flipping her hair to the side and flirting. Since the account in question identifies as a fan, it’s likely that the intensity of Gomez’s scenes were intended to demonstrate that she was the best.
In the clip, Gomez’s character Jessi discovers that the woman she kidnapped is actually her ex-spouse, who has undergone a gender transition. But, of course, Ariana Grande doesn’t have to face that level of emotional intensity as Glinda as she tries to win over charming new student, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). She’s aiming for comedy. The acting styles and tones of the films couldn’t be more different, but the goal of the publication is to definitively determine who is more talented. It’s a vain effort, but pop fans thrive on binary disputes. There is no room for nuance.
The unfolding of the conflict between fans
Since the initial burst of comparisons, the fervor has only grown, making it fascinating to watch pop fans’ typical tactics clash with the intricate mechanics of awards season or any element that challenges its narrative.
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In some cases, fans can vote. Although they have little or no control over the main cinematic disputes, it seems that they try to influence them in some way. Some Critics’ Choice Awards voters reported receiving an email containing a “business proposal.” The email encouraged votes for “Wicked” and highlighted “the riveting performances of the two female leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the latter being an international music mogul and successful artist who recently ventured into acting in a role for the which he prepared for his entire life.”
“The email said that ‘Grande has been described as the heart of the film by many critics, and we would like to secure a nomination for her in the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ category by offering you an amount in the 4-figure range, depending of the numerical position of your ballot’.”
After voter Siddhant Adlakha published the email on platform X, he was the target of a barrage of attacks, mainly from Ariana Grande fans, who accused him of trying to defame her. “As far as I can tell, the narrative around this has quickly turned into some kind of complex accusation, like a game of chess in 5D: It’s clear that this email was sent by a Selena Gomez fan for critics to publish. on Twitter and made Ariana Grande look bad on tape”, analyzed Adlakha.
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“I’m just thanking my lucky stars that Lady Gaga is no longer part of the race,” he added. His chances ended when “Joker: Folie à Deux” was a failure among critics and viewers.
Meanwhile, the anti-Grande group accuses her of not only trying to sabotage Gomez’s chances, but also of acting against “Emilia Pérez” in general. When Variety published an article analyzing the decision of Zoe Saldaña, Gomez’s co-star, to compete in the supporting actress category, despite having more screen time than Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the title role as the protagonist, the Grande’s detractors interpreted this as an effort by Grande herself to sabotage Saldaña. Of course there are people who love Saldaña’s acting, including her roles in films like Marvel. However, it is easy to suspect that she is being inadvertently involved in the disputes between Grande and Gomez, serving as a kind of representative of “Emilia Pérez”.
A different dispute
The disputes that typically arise during Oscar season tend to be more strategic and intellectual than what is happening in this case. In 2017, for example, when “La La Land” and “Moonlight” were pitted against each other, fans of “Moonlight” positioned it as the progressive choice for Best Picture, while “La La Land” was portrayed as the retrograde option, almost associated with Trumpian conservatism. (After all, this happened right after the 2016 election.) While incorrect, there is some logic to this structure. That is not the case now. The work of these women, as well as their demonstrations of mutual cordiality, are being completely ignored. Instead, they are reduced to symbols of ardent fans who see conspiracies around every corner.
As the season progresses, it’s likely that Grande and Gomez will end up sharing the same space at some point. They may even make a show of friendship. After all, Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone, who competed for the Best Actress award last year, ended up taking home matching rings. Will this be enough to calm the fans? Probably not. Pop style does not obey rational rules.
