Footage of Ariana Grande surreptitiously licking doughnuts and and saying that she “ hates America ” and Americans caused quite the scandal for the tiny diva over the weekend — something she’s become well-accustomed to after the barrage of rumored bratty comments that have followed her since she first hit it big with “Problem” last summer.
Ariana has now responded to TMZ ‘s original video by explaining that America’s childhood obesity epidemic angers her so much that she occasionally makes strongly worded comments about it. BuzzFeed News tweeted the statement on Wednesday afternoon.
Statement just in from @ArianaGrande over “I Hate America” doughnut-licking controversy pic.twitter.com/z6Ge68Myjb
— David Mack (@davidmackau) July 8, 2015
Many fans seemed less than impressed with Grande’s excuse. Several responded to the statement with calls that Ariana had evaded the real reason people were upset with the video.
@davidmackau @ArianaGrande @BuzzFeedNews Can someone explain to me how her buying donuts turned into a discussion about obesity?
— Nichole Davidson (@NicholeDavidson) July 8, 2015
@davidmackau @AustinHunt “as an advocate of healthy eating, I decided to go spend an afternoon licking donuts at my local donut shop.”
— Liza Nedelman (@lizachannah) July 8, 2015
@davidmackau @BuzzFeedNews @ArianaGrande Obviously Put together by PR and Not by her! A more honest apology would have been better IMO
— Grumpy Guy (@GrumpyGuy_74) July 8, 2015
@davidmackau @BuzzFeed @ArianaGrande what does she mean out of context? She literally said “I hate America”
— Kendrick (@Kendricklte) July 8, 2015
@davidmackau @ArianaGrande So…she also licked the donuts in protest of childhood obesity?
— Meh, it’s Kari (@Kari_in_Kansas) July 8, 2015
@davidmackau @ArianaGrande But what about the slobbery doughnuts?
— Morgan Shanahan (@the818) July 8, 2015
@davidmackau @ArianaGrande so licking and spitting on donuts is supposed to change obesity in the world?nice to know, gotta try that, lol
— Kathleen (@Biebercome2me) July 8, 2015
Grande also referenced her canceled gig as the entertainment for Major League Baseball’s All-Stars Game this Saturday. Ariana was replaced by Demi Lovato soon after the controversial remarks surfaced, but even the original tweet from the MLB backs up Ariana’s story that it was her health and not her mouth that made her back out of the gig.
. @ddlovato will headline the Budweiser #ASG Concert, part of the Pepsi Music Series, replacing Ariana Grande as a result of health issues. — MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) July 8, 2015
It’s unsure if Grande’s behavior will be enough to scare away her legions of fans. After all, last September, a rumor surfaced that Ariana said that she hopes her fans “ all f***ing die ” after leaving an autograph signing.
[Images via Larry Busacca / Getty Images]
