Ariana Grande Gives Her Everything to the World!

Throughout her life Ariana Grande has made it a priority to make sure that she is doing everything she can to give back. Grande has collaborated with Broadway, MAC Cosmetics, made many donations towards the LGBTQ community, and publicly shown her support for the Black Lives Matter movement, victims of the Manchester bombing, the Equality Act and abortion rights.

Ariana Grande was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida and has become one of today’s most popular singers. Grande displayed a phenomenal singing talent at an early age, but made her Hollywood breakout starring in Nickelodeon’s, Victorious (2010-2013). Towards the end of her time on the show, Grande launched her singing career with the release of her first album Yours Truly (2013). Since then, Grande has received 13 MTV awards, 4 iHeart Radio awards, 4 NRJ music awards, 3 Billboard awards, 3 American Music awards, 3 People’s Choice awards, 2 Grammy awards, and many more honors commemorating her musical talent. In addition to being a successful singer, throughout her singing (and early acting) career, Grande has made a tremendous effort to give back to the world. Grande has formed partnerships with numerous charities and activism movements, provided substantial donations and hosted benefit concerts to fundraise for those in need and made public statements on her social media addressing her beliefs on certain social justice issues.

Broadway

Ariana Grande started her journey as a philanthropist from an early age by volunteering at the Broadway organization in South Africa. Broadway is an organization that “aims to develop a cross-cultural exchange between youth who are in need and artists who seek to use their talents for change.” The organization was co-founded by Grande’s brother, Frankie Grande. In a 2010 interview with PIX Morning News, Grande mentions that even with her hectic schedule starring in Victorious and acting in Broadway musicals (in New York City), Grande made it a firm point that she finds time to give back to the community. At that point, the Grande siblings would travel to South Africa every January to help kids in Gugulethu who are affected by HIV/AIDS, and they would teach them about music, dancing and theater. Grande shares in her interview, “It’s amazing to see them learn and I learn just as much from them […] It’s really life changing.”

Feminist Messages Released on Her Social Media

Ariana Grande has released statements on her social media addressing misogyny within the entertainment industry. Following her breakup with rapper, Big Sean in 2015, Grande published an empowering message on her Twitter, Instagram and Facebook regarding the double standards of women and men in the entertainment industry. Grande shares, “What I meant when I said what I said about not being Sean’s ex is that I am tired of living in a world where women are mostly referred to as a man’s past, present, or future PROPERTY/POSSESSION […] I…do not. Belong. To anyone. But myself. And neither do you.” Many female celebrities publicly supported Grande’s testimony, including singer Rita Ora. Ora responded to Grande’s tweet, “I couldn’t agree with you more. Especially this paragraph #sisterhood #noexplanationneeded.” Grande acknowledges the fact that the press tends to focus more on the sex lives of female musicians than with male musicians. Ultimately, Grande claims that her music is much more interesting to talk about. Whether it is an upcoming album or previous music accomplishments, there is much more to Grande than her romantic history.

MAC Viva Glam

In 2016, Ariana Grande partnered with cosmetics brand, MAC and created a lip shade line where the proceeds benefited those affected by HIV and/or AIDS. The MAC Viva Glam campaign was founded in 1994 and would donate and raise awareness for HIV and AIDS programs. This social justice campaign has also collaborated with Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Chritisna Aguilera. Grande launched her exclusive lip shade line with all of the proceeds going to charity. Grande shared on her Instagram, “I am beyond honoured and excited to be working with a brand that stands for and always has stood for EQUALITY. My lipstick & gloss will be available in January and EVERY PENNY goes to people effected by HIV & AIDS. I have loves & supported @maccosmetics ever since I was a little girl walking through the mall and saw your first #VIVAGLAM girl in the window @rupaulofficial. I’m so honoured!” Grande’s goal when designing her lip shade line was to design a collection that best represents her edgy and sweet vibes. The limited edition products that were created from this collaboration is something Grande was extremely excited to share with her fans, and that they would automatically be giving back to a social justice cause that she was passionate about and deserved more recognition.

Supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement

Ariana Grande has also publicly supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Grande raised her concerns on the act of police brutality emphasizing the presence of white privilege. Grande has continuously implored people to take more action to support BLM. In 2016, Grande connected with singer Victoria Monét to compose a single, “Better Days” in response to the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the five police officers who were fatally shot in Dallas. Grande posted to her Instagram, “Too many precious lives were taken from us this week, this month, this year. Rest in peace #AltonSterling. Rest in peace #PhilandoCastile #BlackLivesMatter. And the police that were peacefully guarding the #BlackLivesMatter rally in Dallas…Rest in peace.” Grande also took the streets of LA in May 2020 as she left quarantine and joined a peaceful protest demanding justice for the murder of George Floyd. Grande urged people to take more action to support the BLM movement by voting, signing petitions, donating to bail funds and supporting Black-owned businesses. Grande shares to her Twitter, “Stay active, stay energized, keep sharing, keep learning.”

Abortion Rights

Ariana Grande is an influential advocate for abortion rights. In 2022, Grande was among the 160 young artists and influencers to sign and publicly support the #BansOffOurBodies campaign, created by Planned Parenthood. The campaign was posted as a full-page advertisement in the May 13 edition of the New York Times which criticizes the Supreme Court’s plan to overturn Roe v. Wade, thus abolishing abortion rights for women in the United States. The campaign was accompanied with a letter co-written by numerous celebrities including Grande where they wrote, “sweeping bans on access to safe, legal abortion are stripping away our freedoms.” Grande had previously taken a stand fighting for abortion rights in 2019, responding to Georgia’s restrictive abortion laws. While on her Sweetener tour, Grande donated $250,000 to Planned Parenthood showing her support for women’s and reproductive rights. Dr. Leana Wen, the President of Planned Parenthood at the time mentioned in a statement, “Ariana Grande’s generous donation comes at a critical time […] Thanks to inspiring support like hers, Planned Parenthood can continue to fight back — in the courts, in Congress, in state houses, and in the streets — against these dangerous attacks on people’s health and lives.”

Support for the LGBTQ Community

Ariana Grande has been a huge advocate for LGBTQ rights as she has performed in benefit concerts and made donations in support of this community. During an interview with Riff in 2014, Grande was asked how she felt about being considered a “gay icon” and she responded, “That’s my favorite thing anyone’s ever said to me in my entire life.” Grande joined Miley Cyrus in 2015 to perform “Don’t Dream It’s Over” for a benefit concert to homeless and LGBT youths, sponsored by Cyrus’ Happy Hippie Foundation. That same year, Grande also performed at the 27th annual NYC Pride: Dance on The Pier. In addition to her benefit concert, Grande showed her support for the LGBTQ community on International Transgender Day of Visibility in 2022 with an incredible donation to the Protect & Defend Trans Youth Fund. Grande shared on her Instagram, “Right now there are hundreds of disgraceful bills pending in state legislature that target trans youth and aim to curb their rights.” Grande planned to match every donation that did not exceed $1.5 million to benefit transgender youths, with the money being divided among 18 organizations including the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, Equality Florida and Jasmyn.

One Love Manchester

Following her Manchester concert in 2017, where a suicide bomber killed 22 people and left 119 people injured, Grande organized a benefit concert, One Love Manchester. Billboard reports that Grande felt a sense of moral obligation as she shared with her manager, Scooter Braun, “If we do nothing I can’t live with that. We must do something.” Grande hosted the concert which included performances from Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Pharell Williams, Niall Horan, and many more! Grande raised $23 million and received tremendous praise for her “grace and strength” in leading the concert so soon after the recent tragedy. Proceeds for the “One Love Manchester” will go towards the “We Love Manchester Emergency Fund”. This fund was set up following the terrorist attack by the Manchester Evening New and British Red Cross. The Manchester City Council even recognized Grande’s charitable efforts by honoring her with citizenship. Sir Richard Leese, leader of the Manchester City Council at the time of the benefit concert reports to BBC, “this seems a fitting moment to update the way we recognize those who make noteworthy contributions to the life and success of our city.” In addition to the 2017 benefit concert, Grande has continued to pay tribute to the lives affected by the bombing incident, by donating Christmas gifts to children’s hospitals. In 2020, Grande donated Amazon vouchers worth over $100 to every child staying at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary. In 2021, Grande donated 1,000 gifts to children who were hospitalized over the holidays. Grande made another donation of Christmas gifts to children in 2022 and received a thank you from Tanya Hamid, the interim director of Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, “It’s so wonderful that Ariana has once again been so thoughtful and made this special donation to our family hospitals.”