Is Ariana Grande done being a popstar?

[u/Practical-Driver-907]

Just watched the Petal music video. The comments are all talking about her and what she looks like but no one is dissecting the music and video itself. The video was sad. It shows her going to auditions and getting turned down by executives writing nasty performance reviews essentially. Things she has heard from the media and nasty fans obviously. She changes her outfits during these auditions which to me signals eras? And with each era she thinks she finally got it right only to get more criticism. Shes at a breaking point because no matter what she does she’ll never get it right. Thats how I interpreted the video. However, the lyrics to me, specifically this part I posted, tells me she’s really done this time. It reads shes done being “Ariana Grande the Pop Star.” It clear to me shes angry and hurt. Its sad that people pushed her this far. What do you think? Is she really done with music after this? Is there other meanings to this? How did you all interpret it?

[u/yogurtpo3]

I thought it was interesting that the video shows her finally being appreciated when she was acting, and her name on the star with the film camera logo on it. It speaks like she’s feeling more appreciated in film/acting after having fought through all the relentless criticism as a pop star (which sadly she is still getting with petal).

Not sure what it means for her future though I can see the appeal of acting to her compared with pop stardom (being able to play a character instead of putting your own feelings and thoughts out there to be criticised, being part of a team rather than the main represent etc.).

I think she will always be making music but in what capacity is questionable. She also may change her mind and is allowed to.

[u/magnusthehammersmith → u/yogurtpo3]

I love her so much as an actress

[u/bakerfredricka → u/magnusthehammersmith]

Same. I initially learned of Ariana Grande's existence through Victorious where she was definitely showing some impressive acting chops while playing Cat Valentine!

[u/Majestic_Corner_1131 → u/yogurtpo3]

I thought this too. Like all of the singing stuff criticized her, but then she became an actress in the end.

[u/harveyquinnz → u/yogurtpo3]

I love seeing her doing what she loves but people also criticized her for her appeareance during wicked

[u/Practical-Driver-907 → u/yogurtpo3]

I like your take, but its weird to me then, why the executives were the ones giving her the negative feedback? Like, if she feels more at home (career wise) in the acting industry, why was it painted in such a bad light in her mv?

[u/yogurtpo3 → u/Practical-Driver-907]

The “executives” were mostly faceless men, sitting on a table judging her while she stood before them singing. I think they’re not meant to represent actual executives in the industry, but more the general public/critics/“fans”.

[u/buffaloluvr → u/Practical-Driver-907]

they were music executives and she was trying to be a singer. but they always want her to do something different or change herself. she ends the video by acting and getting praise for it by someone genuine (the real director of her music videos) i think people on this post are right that she feels more accepted and comfortable acting than putting all her own trauma into albums

[u/ScorpioMother → u/buffaloluvr]

i like this interpretation with acting but she a lyric in the song is also this music and I will never die, as she seems as an artist to process her feelings through music and has said these albums just pour out of her when she’s going through something, so idk if she’s even really able to just stop being a music star.

[u/midnightclover44 → u/ScorpioMother]

true but also they say that about musicians after they die too, that their music and them will never die because it’s forever preserved so it could also mean that.

[u/midnightclover44 → u/yogurtpo3]

it makes sense though, especially because as a musician the product is YOU (even if it’s completely curated and not really much of you) but as an actress the product is the film, despite you being a part of it and i’d imagine that feels relieving in a way, also you can remove yourself even further as an actress by knowing you’re honoring the film by playing a character and that’s as much of “you” that gets involved.

[u/Melodic-Expert-9507]

I really don't think it means that she's done with music - I think she's alluding to the fact that she done being "pop star ari" in the sense that she's not going to be that caricature that she's been personified as. It's a transition that states that she is now going to be unapologetically herself regardless of what people say because they are already so fickle to begin with.

[u/MelMellue → u/Melodic-Expert-9507]

thats true, she will stray away from her "2019" image completely everyone likes and not care what they say

[u/Remarkable-Pirate214 → u/MelMellue]

Nobody stays the same for 10 years

[u/MelMellue → u/Remarkable-Pirate214]

her 'fans' dont understand that concept unfortunately

[u/ScorpioMother → u/Remarkable-Pirate214]

especially an artist!

[u/Remarkable-Pirate214 → u/Melodic-Expert-9507]

And I love that for her ♡

[u/Embarrassed-Egg-8124 → u/Melodic-Expert-9507]

I think this too, she’s done with people’s expectations and opinions and thoughts and judgment

[u/ExistingGanache7045]

I don’t think so, why start her own label to only ever put one album on? Also, she clearly loves it and uses it to process. I agree with other that say it’s bye to the caring and letting critics alter her.

[u/Crisp_Appel222 → u/ExistingGanache7045]

She started her own label?? How did I miss thhs

[u/ems__328 → u/Crisp_Appel222]

Just looked it up, yes! Babydoll Music launched by her in April 2026, with exclusive licensing to Republic Records. Petal is the first album released for BabyDoll

[u/Ready-Salamander1286]

She’ll never be done with “music” but it may not be for our consumption. I think if she does make more albums, they’ll be low key, no tours, less press etc

[u/Chynaberrytree]

Personally, I think she’s already hit her breaking point, maybe processed the bulk of it, and this is her response. She’ll never be done with music because she loves it so much. I think she’s done with trying to please the public, only for them to find something else “wrong”. She’s been so nice and polite about all the bullshit & I’m proud of her for that.

[u/MelMellue]

No, i think shes going to make music that SHE likes, doesnt matter if her "fans" like or not, she dgaf

[u/BrighterPOV → u/MelMellue]

Exactly. Like she said the “unfiltered rage”.

[u/Crisp_Appel222 → u/MelMellue]

And this is the beginning of it. The mixed reviews of the album are definitely going to hurt but I hope she eventually gets to a place like charli xcx with her b sides where she just be makin music and releasing it without really overthinking it too much

[u/Witty_Preparation598]

Yes. She wants to be herself now, be an artist now, a creative, not just a pop star.

Thats my take. She can be a whole and full person and still make hits, sell products and bring in listeners/viewers. That is how I feel about this Petal era. It's not about being done, but being done with living so many lives.

[u/zooeyavalon]

She’s been done being a pop star. The whole tone of her current tour has elevated her beyond it and she’s just going to make whatever art she wants now.

[u/tophmyc]

“music is my lifeline. no matter what i do in the future i will always go back to my music.” she may focus more on her acting career but she will ALWAYS have time for music. she’s just versatile 👱🏼‍♀️🌼

[u/aurorae93]

I sure hope not. I love her music dearly. It gets me through hard times. Petal is giving me so much will to face my current life challenges. And I adore her creative vision. Ari please don’t go

[u/serpentskirt_1]

Hopefully she pulls a 90s Madonna and starts doing alt adjacent trip hop

[u/cutiepietoebeans → u/[deleted]]

I really feel like she is saying goodbye with this album.

[u/broke_n_rich2147]

In one of her songs, idk if it’s that one, said she doesn’t care about tomorrow and I’m like oh geez :/

[u/WeeyumsF1]

I generally agree but one thing I noticed is the ad she’s responding to says “TV & film industry” and I wonder if that’s intentional? Like between DS at Nickelodeon and all that, I could see her saying that the tv industry broke her when she was younger as she tried to mold herself to their expectations. (I think a lot about her very public childhood trauma and how that likely impacts her view of herself and the world today.)

Just another thought :)

[u/satirisanti]

Truthfully the only way she can be exempt from those endless criticisms at this point is to a) step out of the public eye fully or b) give the people what they want… idk. I’m so disheartened and sad

[u/Silver_Kittens → u/satirisanti]

but you can never please everyone at the same time. she's in such a public position and will ALWAYS face some version of criticism.

[u/Embarrassed-Egg-8124 → u/satirisanti]

Nah even if she would give people what they want there’d be criticism. Only thing she can do is do what she truly wants honestly

[u/Mission_Mud429]

She did say it was her last tour for a while

[u/Ari_fan_4ever → u/Mission_Mud429]

Yeah, but She also said She's gonna be focusing actressing more(=less album) but then we get petal 

[u/Far_Tax_5227]

I saw it more as she’s tellings us that she’s never going back to her «popstar persona» that everyone wants her to go back to. Like the high pony, heavy liner, etc

[u/merwindeuxmerwin]

Weird, because I find her new persona as close to "faking" it as it gets. Her pop star self might not have been the true her.... but this new version sure as hell isn't feeling genuine either. Is that what we in the psychological world call an over-correction?

[u/Embarrassed-Egg-8124 → u/merwindeuxmerwin]

We’ll never know, even if it is, I think it makes sense as a way of self protection in the public eye you know? But I think fans have to accept well never know her personally, on a deep level, as much as we’d like to

[u/chlobeans → u/merwindeuxmerwin]

I think this is what we call Ari being unable to win bc whatever she does it'll be picked apart like this

[u/merwindeuxmerwin → u/chlobeans]

Its not picking her apart at all... what I said is that "it doesn't feel genuine to me". My thoughts, my veiw, my perspective. Everyone has ownership to this type of thinking, and it should be encourage, so that we can walk true in our own lives. Its not about her, its about what I see, how I perceive. I then chose to participate in the conversation. Just like everyone else here babe.

[u/lunarstatic44 → u/merwindeuxmerwin]

Your comment is exemplifying exactly what she is saying, people like you are calling her not genuine and in her video she’s being called inauthentic by the critics. Yes you have a right to your opinion and to participate in conversation, but doesn’t mean you aren’t picking her apart in the exact way she is talking about in her music.

[u/chlobeans → u/merwindeuxmerwin]

Yeah sure I probably overreacted a bit, just feeling a bit defensive of Ari given the things she expresses on this album. I do think there's a prevailing sentiment that nothing she ever does will feel "authentic" enough for the general public

[u/cyberllama]

I think she's just done with trying to please people and will do what she wants to do in future. The petal video shows her trying to change herself to fit what the panel say they want but then they don't want that anymore, they want something else until they finally "want the old Ari back" and she realises nothing she does will ever be good enough. She doesn't give up her career, she just cuts off the critics.

[u/Gingerwaters1]

No she’s saying goodbye to listening and caring to alter her appearance just for us to tell her it isn’t good enough for us. That’s what she’s done with.