She is an Academy Award winner, a Tony Award nominee, and a Broadway star. She is Ariana DeBose, and she is not here for your jokes.
The talented actress and singer was the target of a playful jab at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, which aired on Sunday night. The joke was made by presenters Bella Ramsey and Anthony Ramos, who were introducing the nominees for best song.
The duo started by praising some of the most renowned voices in the music industry, such as Billie Eilish, Lenny Kravitz, and Dua Lipa, who were all nominated for their songs in various films. Then, they switched gears and said:
“But not everyone can be a singer. Some actors also think they are singers. Like Jack Black, Ryan Gosling, and Ariana DeBose.”
The camera cut to DeBose, who looked confused for a second before smiling and laughing with the audience. She seemed to take the joke in stride but later revealed that she was not amused by it.
In a post-ceremony Instagram Story, DeBose wrote:
“I appreciate the humor, but I did not find that joke funny. I am a singer. I have been singing since I was a child. I have trained for years to hone my craft. I have performed in musicals on Broadway and on screen. I have sung with some of the best singers in the world. I am proud of my voice and my work. And I don’t need anyone to tell me otherwise.”
DeBose’s fans quickly supported her and expressed their outrage at the joke. They used social media to slam the award show writers and Ramsey for the insensitive remark. They pointed out that DeBose is a versatile and accomplished performer who has proven her vocal skills in various roles, such as Anita in West Side Story, Donna Summer in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, and The Bullet in Hamilton.
One fan tweeted:
“Ariana DeBose is a singer. Period. She has more talent in her pinky finger than Bella Ramsey has in her whole body. How dare she mock her at the #CriticsChoice? Ariana deserves respect and recognition, not ridicule and disrespect.”
Another fan wrote:
“Bella Ramsey should apologize to Ariana DeBose for that joke. It was rude, unnecessary, and inaccurate. Ariana is a phenomenal singer and actress who has won an Oscar and been nominated for a Tony. She is a legend in the making, and no one can take that away from her.”
DeBose has not responded to the backlash or the apology requests, but she did share a positive message on her Instagram Story, thanking her fans for their love and support. She also congratulated the winner of the best song award, Billie Eilish, for her song “No Time To Die” from the famous movie James Bond.
DeBose is currently starring in a Netflix musical comedy series called The Prom. She plays Alyssa Greene, a high school student who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom. The series is based on the Broadway musical of the same name and will also star Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Keegan-Michael Key.
DeBose is expected to showcase her singing and dancing skills in the series and her comedic timing and charm. She is also rumored to be in talks for a lead role in a biopic about singer and activist Nina Simone, which would be another opportunity for her to shine as a singer and an actor.
DeBose is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry, and she is not letting anyone dim her light. She is an actor who is also a singer, and a singer who is also an actor. And she is fantastic at both.
