Ever since releasing her debut extended play, As She Pleases, in 2018, Madison Beer has not been able to catch a break from Ariana Grande’s fans comparing her looks, style, and vocal abilities to the “Problem” singer — and quite frankly, it seems as if the 21-year-old has grown tired of the constant criticism.
Madison has never made it a secret that she’s a big fan of Ariana’s music, but it seems as if she believes people are purposely trying to start a rivalry between the two women by feeding into the idea that the “Selfish” pop star wants to be like Ariana, which some say is evident by the way that she dresses and shares a striking resemblance to the latter.
If that wasn’t enough, people have also criticized Madison’s close ties with Justin Bieber, despite the fact that he’s the one who discovered her, to begin with. Madison and Ariana share a lot in common, from their taste in music, fashion, and friends, but it’s not hard to see why the newcomer is tired of constantly finding herself having to address claims she’s a “wannabe Ari.”
Madison Beer Hates Ariana Grande Comparisons
As a new artist, who only released her debut studio album, Life Support, in February 2021, it can be overwhelming for Madison to constantly be told she’s trying to be like Ariana just because both women share a resemblance from fashion to music.
The “Hurts Like Hell” vocalist clearly isn’t oblivious to what’s going on because she tends to come across those comments all the time — regardless of whether she’s on Instagram Live or doing an interview, Ariana’s name is constantly being brought up.
In an IG Live session back in November 2020, for example, Madison addressed critics who believe she’s trying to morph into another Ariana, which she said was not true by any means.
"I try not to look at that stuff,” she responded. "I've openly supported and loved and been a fan of Ariana's for years and years and years so I think she would say and I would say she makes things to inspire and that's what an artist is all about.”
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Madison went on to insist that she’s been “bullied” and “harassed” by people because they think she wants to be Ariana, and since she’s never said anything negative about the “Love Me Harder” chart-topper, she doesn’t understand why she gets so much negative attention.
"I think it's sad and hurtful when I see so many people bullying and harassing me in a lot of ways and taking away that legit-ness of anything I do.”
She added that while they may share some similarities here and there, Madison thinks she’s a completely different artist to Ariana and that pitting women against each other when neither one of them barely knows one another is very much uncalled for.
Madison even branded Ariana to be one of her idols.
"I don't think we're to be compared and we're our own people and she's definitely inspired me because she's one of my idols and I love her so much,” she said.
"It makes me sad when I see people pinning us against each other when it's nothing but love, I adore her and think she's a f***ing icon. It's just kind of mean and I'm my own person.
"And if she does something that inspires, I think that's her goal, I don't know why there would be a problem with her positively impacting me or anyone else.”
Madison became an overnight sensation after Justin Bieber posted a link to one of her YouTube covers back in 2013, which would later propel the New York native to release her debut single, "Melodies," that very same year.
She’s since signed a record deal with Epic Records and released her debut album, Life Support, in February 2021, which includes the Gold-certified single, “Selfish,” for surpassing sales of more than 500,000 copies in the US.
Riff Magazine rated the album 8/10 while NME followed suit by giving it four out of five stars, showing signs that the project has been received rather well by critics.
Whether or not Madison will become a contender against Ariana down the line has yet to be seen, but from what’s been gathered, the “Good in Goodbye” singer-songwriter has no issues with Ari and would want nothing more than for people to keep pitting her against someone she’s considered her idol for so long.
It’s unclear whether Madison and Ariana have spoken behind the scenes, but it’s highly unlikely that Ari is feeding into the negativity that people are spreading about her and the singer they so desperately want her to be feuding with.
#NotHappening.