Ariana Grande fans are furious after a former Donald Trump adviser called the star’s Wicked casting “racist” and misnamed her ethnicity.
Right-wing TV personality Gina Loudon, 56, a Mar-a-Lago regular and media adviser to President-elect Trump in 2020, made the bizarre comments in a Nov. 26 appearance on Real America’s Voice.
Loudon said that although she was initially “very excited” to see the film, she was put off by the underlying social messages she felt were embedded in the film, which stars Grande, 31, as Galinda and Cynthia Erivo, 37, as Elphaba.
She said: “I should have known it was Hollyweird; I should have known they would try to wake him up any way they could think of.”
“Let’s start with the fact that you have Ariana Grande, who is obviously a Hispanic woman, playing the role of a dumb, blonde, white, really villain when it comes to this particular movie.” (Grande is Italian-American, not Hispanic.)
“Frankly, I found the racism and racial appropriation offensive.
Ariana Grande fans are furious after a former Donald Trump adviser called her Wicked casting “racist” and misnamed her ethnicity (pictured with Cynthia Erivo in the film).
Right-wing personality Gina Loudon, 56, a Mar-a-Lago regular and media advisor to President-elect Trump in 2020, made the bizarre comments in a Nov. 26 appearance on the Real America’s Voice network.
“Not all white people are stupid and evil, and I get a little tired of that story and I feel like that’s where it started, and it kind of lost me there and it lasted three hours.”
Loudon came under harsh criticism online from users upset by his opinions; and factual inaccuracies about Grande’s background.
“Throughout that masterful musical all she got is Hispanic,” said one user, while another commented, “Ariana Grande is Italian, you dumb bitch.”
One user wrote: ‘First: Ariana is a white woman; 2nd: Racism does not exist towards whites; 3rd: Did this bitch even see the movie?
One user said: “I’m surprised someone would be so dumb, but then again, he’s a Trumpie so he fits the job description.”
One user said Loudon ‘didn’t acknowledge his own racism when he called the film “woke” for having a Spanish woman (Ariana Grande) playing the ditzy blonde white woman. Ariana Grande is Italian.
‘Do white people think they are the only ones allowed to play the most important roles? Are only white people allowed to celebrate in this country?
The user insinuated that Loudon was jealous of Grande’s talents and celebrity compared to her own.
Loudon said, “Let’s start with the fact that you have Ariana Grande, who is obviously a Hispanic woman, playing the role of a dumb, blonde, white, really villain when it comes to this particular movie.” (Grande is Italian-American, not Hispanic)
The film has grossed $372 million worldwide since it hit theaters on November 22.
Loudon was criticized online by fans of the singer
‘Ariana Grande is one of the most talented women in the world,’ the user stated. “Gina Loudon is just another salty, racist white woman unable to deal with the fact that there is nothing special about being white.
“When being white defines who you are, then your life is empty and lacks purpose.”
In movie-related news, the National Board of Review threw its weight behind Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, naming the lavish musical best film of the year, Chu best director, and giving its stars, Erivo and Grande, an award for their collaboration, in awards announced Wednesday.
Already a box office force, Wicked is also embarking on an awards campaign that is expected to make it a top contender at the Academy Awards.
The National Review Board, a long-standing New York-based organization of film enthusiasts and academics founded in 1909, has no correlation with the film academy.
But the win gives Wicked some momentum ahead of Monday’s Golden Globe nominations, where it should do well.
“Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences,” said NBR President Annie Schulhof. “Every detail is beautifully crafted and designed, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second to none; together it adds up to a transportive experience like no other.”
The NBRs join the recent string of awards handed out this week, including the Gotham Awards on Monday, the New York Film Critics Circle on Tuesday and the Spirit Awards nominations announced on Wednesday.
The NBR Awards will be presented at a non-televised gala on January 7 in New York and hosted by Willie Geist.