Arts & Entertainment
Ariana Grande’s new song sparks queerbaiting controversy
The Victoria Monét collab includes the lyrics ‘I like women and men’
Ariana Grande says she doesn’t like to label her sexuality after some people were skeptical about her new song’s bisexual lyrics.
Grande released “Monopoly” with her friend and singer/songwriter Victoria Monét. In the song, Grande and Monét both sing the lyric “I like women and men (yeah).” Grande also sings the line by herself later in the song.
Monét came out as bisexual in November 2018 tweeting “After coming out, this thanksgiving coulda went
A source told People that Grande “is of course a well-known LGBT ally and this is her supporting her friends.”
Grande expressed on Twitter that she doesn’t feel the need to label her sexuality.
i haven’t before and still don’t feel the need to now ???♂️ which is okay
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) April 1, 2019
Monét backed up her friend by telling a fan Grande “said what she said” on the song.
Some fans were glad Grande was being open with them about her sexuality.
SO ARIANA GRANDE IS POSSIBLY BI?? ANOTHER WIN FOR THE GAYS pic.twitter.com/mUJ8kZYjDW
— bryan! (@bryanvilIa) April 1, 2019
y’all accused ariana of queerbaiting and it turned out she’s bisexual. y’all dragged her just because she’s not showing off her sexuality as a personality trait like some of y’all do
— uǝq (@nootearstocry) April 2, 2019
YALL ARE BOO BOO THE FOOLS. pic.twitter.com/HkcFZfmrav
dont forget that ariana might be bi but she could also still be figuring herself out/exploring and she might not label herself yet . she could be trying it out feel comfortable expressing it thru music
— naya (@lovedlust) April 1, 2019
Others felt Grande wasn’t talking about her own sexuality in the song but was queerbaiting.
Can Ariana Grande stop queerbaiting and treating bisexuality like it’s some cute fuckin joke for straight women to play with??? Thank u, next ?
— 〘 Anne Lorraine 〙 (@LegitLorraine) April 1, 2019
Ariana will never publicly come out and say she’s bisexual because that would require her actually being attracted to women(not just kissing for fun like every straight girl) she’ll say sexuality is fluid while still only dating men so she doesn’t get accused of queerbaiting pic.twitter.com/23yPVfSMbg
— Nae (@DeepSpaceYonce) April 1, 2019
Ariana retired doing blackface and has moved onto pretending to be bisexual pic.twitter.com/DEwsVofPlG
— brandon (@cabelIo) March 31, 2019
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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