Ariana DeBose has a full schedule. She has Apple TV+ Schmigadoon in 2023! Then, there will be a Marvel film, an animated Disney movie, a space-thriller, and a sci-fi thriller. She will also host the Tonys' televised event this Sunday, despite the WGA strike. She spoke to Marie Claire in order to promote her projects and reflect on the year that was. She talked about her Oscar, her experience at Disney and why she is no longer on Twitter. My exposure to Ariana was embarrassingly limited because I had not seen her perform in West Side Story. She was a pretty nice person, and I found that to be the case. She seems grounded. Many people who have a meteoric rise in fame lose their sense of reality.

She says about [Disney]: "Even in these turbulent times and with all of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that's happening in Florida, the company has stood by me." They've allowed to me be a partner in making this movie. If I create a positive working environment and am a part of what is going on, it will make more room for people who look and identify like me to join in.

Why people are afraid of ambitious women? "Ambition can be scary for some people because it reminds them of the things they have not accomplished. This can lead to animosity, resentment and even a sense of threat," says the woman. "It's brave to be ambitious and to believe in what you want to achieve. It's not for everyone. "It's okay to say that."

DeBose will host the Tonys on Sunday, despite the writers' strike. She says that, while she "honors", the WGA's fight for better compensation, Broadway is still recovering from pandemic and needs her support. She says, "We have this one chance to go into homes in America and show what our community does, and that exchange ultimately feeds back into the livelihoods of those involved, keeping shows running, keeping people employed, providing healthcare, pensions, helping people get back on their legs." "I would have regretted not being there for them at a time such as this."

She quits Twitter after receiving hate for her BAFTAs Rap: "I no longer f-k Twitter because it's the Hater Olympics. Why would you want a gold in hatred? I don't get it," she says. "I am ambitious, but my business is not to tear people apart." You can keep your gold in hatred and I will go somewhere else to do my thing.

[From Marie Claire]

She is also asked about the BAFTAs Rap in great detail and I wish that they would not. The people's response was so extreme that I think she shouldn't have to continue to relive it in interviews. In regards to her decision to host despite the writers' strike, I am ambivalent about it. She's absolutely right. Broadway is a worthy industry. How many people actually watch the Tony Awards on TV? As a former unionist, I'd have a hard time crossing the picket lines, either figuratively, or literally. She says some nice things about Disney, but I don't believe the company will fully support its queer creators and queer fans until it starts telling actual queer stories. It's not her job to change Disney culture. I'm certain she's going to have to say this kind of thing. Disney must adapt its content so that it includes stories that acknowledge that LGBTQ+ people do exist and treat their stories as fascinating in their own rights.

Ariana has a point about Twitter. Although Black Twitter is an amazing gift for all of us and Twitter provides news in real-time to people who might not have otherwise had access to it, I don't think Twitter is the best place to be, in general. This was true even before Elon took control in a spectacularly feckless manner. I left years ago, because I didn't wish to be swept up in the torrents of anger and public humiliation that raged across the platform. I didn't let it affect my life. Twitter has caused a collapse in context, but also encourages a culture where a new sacrifice lamb is found every day. Ariana's awkward performance became the focus of the day. It was used to express collective anger. What about the fact that Ariana is a Black Latina queer woman, who's super talented and successful? This only makes people more angry. She's lucky she doesn't use social media.

Darla Khazei/Avalon via Instagram/Marie Claire