Ariana Grande Says Everyone Liked Her On Nickelodeon Until She Had Hit Records: "Everyone Decided I Was An Evil Diva”

In a recent interview, Grande, 31, reflected on how her public image shifted dramatically from her early career to the height of her success.

Her career began on Nickelodeon, where she starred as Cat Valentine on Victorious and later Sam & Cat. Her sweet, quirky character quickly made her a fan favorite. However, as she transitioned into her music career, the media’s perception of her shifted dramatically.

"I was this approachable, funny redhead on Nickelodeon, and everyone liked me," she shared, referring to her breakout role as Cat Valentine on "Victorious." However, things changed after she gained major success in the music industry.

"Then I had one too many hit records, and everyone decided that I was an evil diva."

After her breakout hit “The Way” in 2013, Grande became one of the most successful pop artists of her generation. Albums like "My Everything" and "Dangerous Woman" solidified her as a new powerhouse, but with that success came increased scrutiny.

In one incident, a video emerged of her licking donuts at a bakery and saying she "hated America," which led to significant backlash. Grande apologized publicly, calling her comments "inappropriate."

Grande has also had to contend with allegations surrounding Nickelodeon's treatment of its child stars, particularly under the direction of Dan Schneider. While Grande herself hasn’t spoken directly about any experiences of inappropriate behavior, she stated that "the environment needs to be made safer if kids are going to be acting. I think there should be therapists, I think parents should be allowed wherever they want to be," she added.

Grande also called the Quiet on Set survivors who came forward about the mistreatment and abuse on Nickelodeon "devastating."

Clips from Sam & Cat and behind-the-scenes footage often feature sexualized humor which has raised concerns about how the young actresses, including Grande, were treated. Schneider, who produced many hit Nickelodeon shows, was eventually let go from the network. Regarding the scenes, Grande agreed some went too far.

"And the innuendos were like, we were told and convinced as well that it was the cool differentiation.  And I don’t know, I think it all just happened so quickly, and now looking back on some of the clips, I’m like, ‘That’s…damn, really?’ The things that weren’t approved for the network were snuck on to like our website or whatever it was, and that is another discovery. But I’m going into it…I guess I’m upset."

Grande also spoke about how the back-and-forth narrative created by the media—labeling her everything from a diva to a victim—has been challenging to endure.

“It’s taken me a lot of hard work to last this long,” she admitted, describing how tabloids have been "trying to destroy" her since she was 19. "I’m not a perfect person, but I am definitely deeply good, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming."

She's also faced a series of accusations over the years, many involving rumors about her relationships, particularly with men who were either married or in committed relationships. The most notable instance occurred recently with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, who was married when rumors of their romance surfaced. Fans and tabloids were quick to label Grande a “homewrecker,” fueling the narrative that she had "stolen" Slater from his wife, Lilly Jay.

Grande addressed this scrutiny in interviews and defended Slater, stating that the portrayal of him was entirely inaccurate.

“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart, and that is something no bulls**t tabloid can rewrite in real life.”

This wasn't the first time Grande was accused of stealing a man. When she began dating her now ex-husband Dalton Gomez, there were unconfirmed rumors that the timeline of their relationship overlapped with the end of his previous relationship. Additionally, back in 2014, she was involved in drama with fellow singer Naya Rivera, who implied that Grande was dating rapper Big Sean while he was still with her.

Some on social media were quick to sympathize while others still believe the diva label fits.

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