#Ariana Grande Reflects on “Transformative” and “Challenging” Year: “Many Beautiful and Yet Polarized Feelings”

Ariana Grande is looking back on this past year with positivity and gratitude.

The singer-actress took to her Instagram Story Friday to reflect on 2023 and show her appreciation for the lessons she has learned and the people she met throughout the year.

“one of the most transformative, most challenging, and yet happiest and most special years of my life. there were so many beautiful and yet polarized feelings,” Grande wrote. “i’ve never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me. i’ve never felt more fulfilled by or present in my work, being able to cherish every moment.”

It’s been a busy year for Grande, who was filming the highly-anticipated Wicked movies, based on the popular Broadway musical. She is starring alongside Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater in the films directed by Jon M. Chu.

“i gave everything i could have possibly given of my heart and of myself to the projects i was fortunate enough to be a part of and learned so much from every brilliant, beautiful, soul that i had the privilege of creating art with and crossing paths with this year,” the “7 Rings” singer continued.

But it was also a difficult year for the pop star, who reportedly separated from Dalton Gomez after two years of marriage. The pair filed for divorce in September and settled the following month. But in recent months, she has also been reportedly romantically linked to her Wicked co-star Slater.

“i have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life,” Grande shared on social media. “i have learned how much more important one of those things is than the other.”

She added, “i have never felt more tightly held or fiercely protected by those who love and understand me (friends, family, and fans alike). i feel safe, even amidst so many things I’d usually be afraid of. i am listening to and trusting myself, even when fear or trauma tells me not to. i am reacting to things that deserve my energy only and removing and protecting myself from things that do not.”

Looking beyond feeling “deeply misunderstood,” Grande said she is “eternally grateful for all of the feelings i was lucky enough to feel so deeply this year,” including hers as well as those of her Wicked character Glinda.

“the unfathomably hard ones and the inexplicably happy ones. i feel more human than ever. i feel more deeply than ever. i feel softer and stronger, all at once,” she wrote. “i am wrapping you all in a cocoon of love and wishing you a very happy, healthy new year. if you every feel misunderstood or alone, just remember that it will pass and you are not. take a deep breath and know that you are so incredibly loved. i cannot wait for next year.”

 Wicked Part One arrives in theaters Nov. 27, 2024, while Part Two will premiere Nov. 26, 2025.