Ariana Grande Congratulates Selena Gomez on Golden Globes Nominations; Ladies Unite at Academy Luncheon With Chanel

Ryma Chikhoune
·4-min read

Ariana Grande was in bed playing a video game when she got the news about her Golden Globes nomination. She’s up for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Glinda in “Wicked.”

“It was Super Mario Party Jamboree,” she smiled. “And I didn’t believe it,” she said of the recognition.

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Grande was at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for the Academy Women’s Luncheon on Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles, presented by Chanel. Many wore head-to-toe looks by the French house; Grande opted for a V-neck minidress with black pumps and a matching bow in her hair.

“I got a call from my publicist, and I just started sobbing my eyes out,” Grande went on. “We were all on FaceTime together crying. And then I called my mom and then I called Cynthia [Erivo]. And then I called my acting coach, Nancy Banks. It’s very surreal. You don’t expect it. Of course, you try to keep your blinders on and just focus on doing the work as best you can and honoring the role. You know, when it happens it’s really extraordinary and overwhelming, and I feel so grateful.”

She’s recognized in the same category as Selena Gomez, also in attendance — and in Chanel — Zoe Saldaña, Margaret Qualley, Felicity Jones and Isabella Rossellini. Gomez said Grande was among of the first to congratulate her via text message. “I see how hard she works,” Grande said.

For her part, Gomez — nominated twice for “Only Murders in the Building” and “Emilia Pérez” — said she was up at 3 a.m. the morning nominations were announced.

“I was thinking that they were earlier than they were,” Gomez explained. “So, I stayed on my couch to keep myself awake. And then my boyfriend [Benny Blanco] and I watched the nominations. I genuinely was shocked. I know people say that, but I think Zoe has more of a right to have that spot and so to be recognized was such a surprise and honor.”

The international acclaim of “Emilia Pérez,” directed by Jacques Audiard, has unlocked new avenues for her, she said, and that includes an Academy event invite.

“Can I be honest?” Gomez continued. “This is my first time attending this event, and I don’t think I was necessarily able to be here before this movie, so it’s opened a lot of opportunities for me, which is exciting because I get to be a part of luncheons that actually have nothing to do with lunch. It’s about being around women.”

What changes would she like to see in the industry for gender equity?

“Unfortunately, with the climate of everything — I’m kind of bummed,” she said, hinting at the changing political winds. “I’m just really trying to stay hopeful, and I want to be a part of the change, whatever that looks like.”

“It’s not happening as fast as we’d want it to, but it is happening,” 95-year-old actress June Squibb, who stars in “Thelma” said of progress she’s seen in the industry. She began her career with a Broadway debut in the musical “Gypsy” in 1959. “And I think you can see that with the films this year, like ‘Emilia Pérez.’”

“We’re still waking up,” said “Babygirl” director Halina Reijn, who has Nicole Kidman at the center of her female-driven film. “Sometimes we think we’re there, but we’re not there at all, especially in current times,” she said, of gender equity. “It’s pretty sad and pretty scary, if I’m honest. In the end, the patriarchy has to change. We can do a lot ourselves but it’s also something that men need to get behind.”

She, too, wore Chanel.

“I think it’s important that the fashion world, even though it’s there to make us feel and look beautiful, also get behind feminism,” she added, when asked about the role of fashion. “It’s incredible that Chanel supports this.”

For Chanel, sponsor for the third consecutive year, the event highlights its commitment to celebrate filmmaking and help empower women in the industry.

Now in its seventh year, the Academy Women’s Luncheon recognizes two emerging women filmmakers, a U.S. and international fellow, who receive financial support, mentorship and networking opportunities through its one-year Gold Fellowship for Women program. This year the spotlight was on Raha Amirfazli, an Iranian writer, director and producer based in New York, and Shadi Karamroudi, an actress, director, writer and producer, who was unable to attend due to being denied a tourist visa — reflecting the state of Iran and U.S. relations.

“I’m truly saddened that the other fellow, Shadi, couldn’t be here with us today,” Amirfazli said during her speech.

Later, a group of women including Janet Yang, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, huddled together to call Karamroudi from the event and congratulate her.

“That is sisterhood,” Yang said.

Launch Gallery: Inside Academy Women's Luncheon x Chanel, Celebrity Arrivals: Photos

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