Pete Davidson has spoken up for his former fiancée Ariana Grande, criticising the online commentary about her appearance that led the singer to step away from public life in August. “I don’t like it at all,” he said. “It’s not cool.”
The comedian Pete Davidson has criticised the online scrutiny of Ariana Grande’s appearance, Billboard reported.
Davidson, who was once engaged to the singer, made the comments in a cover-story interview with Variety published on September 30.
What He Said
“I don’t like it at all,” Davidson said. “It’s not cool. She’s a really strong person — I’ve witnessed it — and I don’t understand it.”
“She knows how to handle this stuff though,” he added. “She’s been around. She’ll be OK.”
The Background
Commentary about Grande reached a peak over the summer, as people online increasingly speculated about her appearance and slender figure.
The scrutiny grew further after the release of her music video for “Petal”. In August, Grande announced that she would step away from the public eye for an unspecified period.
Their History
Grande and Davidson began dating in 2018 and were engaged within months. They had separated by the end of October that year.
The break-up came about a month after the death of the rapper Mac Miller, whom Grande had dated for nearly two years before Davidson.
Billboard described it as a dark period for the singer, who was grieving while also receiving abuse from some of Miller’s fans.
The Song
Grande turned to music in the aftermath and returned with the album Thank U, Next, which topped the Billboard 200.
Its title track, in which she mentions Davidson by name, spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first of her solo chart-toppers.
Davidson has joked in his stand-up about being the inspiration for one of pop’s best-known break-up songs. In the new interview he quipped that “there should be a group” for famous ex-boyfriends.
Why It Resonates
Public commentary on the bodies of female performers is a long-running issue in entertainment. Davidson’s remarks stand out because they come from a former partner with whom Grande once exchanged pointed comments in public, and who is now speaking in her defence.
Image: Ariana Grande performing in July 2026. Photo by Saturnmondays via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
