Ariana Grande is fully immersed in her role as Glinda in Wicked—so much so that she jokingly calls herself a “protective nerd” when it comes to the film adaptation.
During a conversation with Billie Eilish at an FYC event at the DGA Theater, Grande opened up about her deep commitment to preserving the essence of the beloved musical. She admitted that she was incredibly particular about any changes made to the original material, ensuring that they served a meaningful emotional or narrative purpose. “I felt like a protective nerd, like the gatekeeping fangirl in the room,” she joked.
One example she shared was an early version of Popular that featured hip-hop drums—a creative decision that didn’t sit right with her. Grande recalled feeling the need to speak up but wanted to do so respectfully. “Steven Schwartz shared that there was a version of Popular in the very beginning that had hip-hop drums in it. I was like, ‘How do I have this conversation in the most loving, respectful way?’ I was like, ‘This cannot happen.’”
She explained that Glinda’s upbeat, bubbly personality simply wouldn’t align with that kind of musical shift. Laughing, she added, “There’s a time and place for everything, and it’s not with Glinda—because she claps on one and three, and that’s OK.”
Throughout the event, Grande and Eilish exchanged heartfelt admiration for each other. Eilish, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, revealed that she had been a longtime fan, even reminiscing about her teenage years when she used to comment on Grande’s old interviews on YouTube, proudly declaring herself “Team Ari.”
Her confession sparked laughter from both the audience and Grande, who was clearly touched by the sweet moment.