Even Ariana Grande has been criticized for interrupting a viewer’s Wicked experience.
The actress revealed that she was caught checking her phone during a private family screening of her mother Joan Grande’s musical film.
Grande stars in the film and a debate has arisen over whether or not it’s appropriate for moviegoers to sing along loudly in theaters after Wicked’s release.
During an interview with The Hollywood ReporterWhile talking about how many times she had watched Wicked, Grande, 31, revealed that Joan admonished her after taking a look at her phone while watching the movie with her family, including her grandmother in Florida.
When Grande defended herself, her mother reminded her that she was talking.
‘When I saw it with my nonna in Florida, I checked my phone several times and my mom was like, “Ariana, get off the phone!” And I said, “Mommy, not only have I seen it, but I’m in it!” I thought, “I know what’s going on here. I think I can quickly check what they just sent me!” She says, “Ariana, you’re talking!”
Ariana Grande has revealed that her own mother, Joan Grande, admonished her for checking her phone and talking during a screening of Wicked; in the photo 2020
The funny anecdote comes amid a broader debate about singing in theaters following the release of Wicked.
Before the film’s official release, US theaters warned that singing along to the musical’s hits was strictly prohibited, following reports of disruptions during early screenings across the country.
According The New York TimesSome fans struggled to contain themselves during Grande and Erivo’s performances of hits like Popular and Defying Gravity at early screenings, drawing the ire of other moviegoers.
Subsequently, the American cinema chain AMC reminded moviegoers that “silence is golden” and that singing will not be tolerated during screenings.
‘At AMC theaters, silence is golden. Without speaking. No text messages. No singing. No regrets. No flirting. And absolutely no insults. Enjoy the magic of the movies,’ read a pre-show notice issued by AMC, The Independent reported.
An AMC spokesperson also told US newspaper IndyStar that while this has always been the theatre’s “long-standing policy”, they wanted to reiterate the rules due to the huge popularity of songs like Defying Gravity and What is this Feeling.
“WICKED’s pre-show announcement incorporates the film’s themes as a fun and engaging reminder to moviegoers not to disrupt the experience of those around them while enjoying the show,” AMC’s official statement to the publication read.
Fans have also been sharing images of signs prohibiting singing during screenings of Wicked on
“Please refrain from singing during the show.”
Grande stars in the film and a debate has arisen over whether or not it’s appropriate for moviegoers to sing along loudly in theaters after Wicked’s release.
Grande revealed she broke movie etiquette while watching Wicked with her ‘Nonna’
According to The New York Times, some fans struggled to contain themselves during Grande and Erivo’s performances of hits like Popular and Defying Gravity, drawing the ire of other moviegoers.
The ban sparked a furious dispute over theatrical etiquette on TikTok and Reddit, as fans debated whether it was appropriate to sing during movie screenings.
Last month, Grande’s Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo encouraged fans to sing along to the hits as she weighed in on whether or not singing should be allowed in movie theaters.
She said: ‘Good. I’m fine with that. We spent all this time singing it ourselves; It’s time for everyone else to join in. It’s wonderful.
‘This has been a dream come true, being able to share it with my family and friends.
‘People who share their own experiences and feel different. And they feel comfortable enough to share that with me. I’m really grateful for that.’