Ariana Grande Locked in Secret Feud With Zendaya: Actresses Are ‘Constantly Competing’ (Exclusive)

There’s no love lost between Ariana Grande and Zendaya, a source tells In Touch.

The former child stars — Grande appeared on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, while Zendaya featured on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up — have “been on parallel tracks” since the beginning of their careers, explains the source, but the rivalry ramped up once the “7 Rings” singer stepped into the role of Glinda for 2024’s Wicked and its sequel.

The part nabbed the pop princess, 32, nominations at all of the major awards shows, including the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and Oscars.

“Until the last two years, Ari had mostly stuck to music,” notes the source. “But now she and Zendaya are constantly competing for opportunities, from movie contracts to product endorsements and fashion deals, because they have overlapping fanbases of women who grew up with them.”

Adds the source: “There’s real money involved.”

Complicating matters is that Emmy winner Zendaya, 29, and her Grammy-winning peer share team members like high-profile stylist Law Roach, spills the source.

“It would just be easier for everybody in their orbits if Zendaya and Ariana could find some common ground or something to team up on,” spills the source. “Neither one of them has made any move in that direction, though.”

Instead, they’re seemingly set for a showdown at the box office — and on the red carpet — during the holiday season.

Grande’s next flick, Focker In-Law, is scheduled to come out on Wednesday, November 25, just three weeks before Zendaya’s Dune: Part Three gets released to theaters on Friday, December 18.

“2026 is going to be the first year where Zendaya and Ariana are in direct competition for ticket sales,” says the source. “Nobody is going to be watching those numbers closer than they are!”