Leighton Meester Clears the Air on “Viral Encounter” with Ariana Grande
Leighton Meester has spoken out to dispel rumours of any animosity between herself and pop sensation Ariana Grande, following a widely discussed incident at the Critics Choice Awards. The Gossip Girl alum, 39, addressed the viral red carpet moment, which some interpreted as her “mocking” the singer.
Leighton Meester
According to Meester, the misunderstanding stemmed from a simple case of mishearing. She recounted the event on the February 18 episode of the “Podcrushed” podcast, explaining her interaction with Grande.
“I was with Kate [my publicist], and [Ariana] said something to me,” Meester explained. “And then Kate turns around, and we both heard that she goes, ‘Hi, I love you. Wah, wah, wah.’ I couldn’t hear her.” Meester initially believed Grande was being playful and comically imitating an older person struggling to hear. “She was walking away. And I was like, ‘Oh, she’s kind of a comedy queen. She’s just being funny.’ Like, ‘I love you. Wah, wah, wah.’ I thought that would be something she would do. And so I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that’s cute and funny.’ And then, turns out, she didn’t say that.”
Setting the Record Straight
The Nobody Wants This star took it upon herself to clarify the situation directly with Grande the following week.
“I saw her the next week, and I was like, ‘I have to tell you, I thought [you said that],’” Meester revealed. Grande’s reaction, as described by Meester, was one of amusement. “And she’s like, ‘You thought I said, wah wah wah? That’s so funny.’” Meester added, feeling a touch sheepish, “And I was like, ‘No, it’s an old person not being able to hear.’ That is so embarrassing.”
Leighton Meester
Fan Reactions and Speculation
Despite Meester’s insistence that there was no ill will, the incident had already sparked considerable debate online. Many fans remained unconvinced by Meester’s explanation.
- Accusations of Deception: Some social media users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) accused Meester of attempting to cover up her actions. One comment read, “She got caught making fun of her and is trying to cover her a– lol just own it — Ari tried to take her man. We get it.”
- Age-Related Comments: Others took issue with Meester’s self-deprecating remark about being “old” at 39. “Saying you’re old at 39 is kinda weird but ok,” one user pointed out.
Social media reactions to the incident.
The Original Viral Moment
The initial clip that ignited the online storm showed Grande, 32, enthusiastically greeting Meester and her husband, Gossip Girl co-star Adam Brody, with a loud “I love you so much!” The audio in the viral video appeared to capture Grande saying something closer to “Wow, wow, wow.” Meester was then seen and heard seemingly repeating those sounds back, which many interpreted as her teasing or mocking Grande.
Ariana Grande and Adam Brody at the Critics Choice Awards.
The video quickly gained traction on TikTok, with one repost amassing over 2.9 million likes and a staggering 21.5 million views. This led to a flurry of online commentary:
- One social media user questioned, “Now why she make fun of Ari’s ‘wow’ and laugh with the staff??? rude???”
- Another user commented, “Leighton making fun of Ariana saying ‘wow’ um…”
Defence and Alternative Interpretations
However, not everyone interpreted the interaction negatively. A significant portion of viewers came to Meester’s defence, offering alternative explanations for her behaviour.
- Laughing with, Not at: One TikTok user argued that Grande’s initial exclamation sounded sarcastic, suggesting the entire exchange was part of a shared joke. “You can even tell how Ariana says that in a sarcastic way, cause it’s all part of the jokeee! she was not laughing at her, she was laughing WITH HER.”
- A Gossip Girl Nod?: Another theory proposed that Meester’s reaction might have been a subtle reference to her iconic role as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl. This interpretation suggested that Meester wasn’t being malicious, but rather engaging in playful banter. “Guys, it was a reference from Gossip Girl. Leighton was not being mean.”
A still from the viral video.
Ultimately, Leighton Meester’s clarification aims to put an end to the speculation. While the initial viral moment captured the public’s imagination and sparked a range of reactions, Meester maintains that the encounter was a simple, albeit embarrassing, misunderstanding.
