It’s been an eventful week for former Nickelodeon child star Ariana Grande, the 22-year-old pop singer who was caught on a security camera last week saying she “hates America” and “hates Americans” while licking doughnuts at a bakery in Southern California.
While the events are still unfolding, it has been revealed that Grande will be making her acting debut in the upcoming Zoolander sequel.
Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon, who jumped to defend Grande on Twitter amid the doughnut licking escapade this week, let the casting news slip as she explained why she had supported the singer after her anti-American rant.
“Lick a doughnut in solidarity with @ArianaGrande,” Sarandon asked her 268 thousands followers on Thursday, branding Grande as a “sweet, talented, true American.”
Sarandon, who has now revealed the two worked together on the new film, says Grande’s comments about America were “clearly taken out of context.”
“Well, I just worked with her. We did Zoolander 2 together, in Rome. She couldn’t be more professional or sweet,” Sarandon told Vulture. “It’s just ridiculous they (critics) are jumping on her the way they are.”
Grande issued an apology in the form of a statement Wednesday, saying, “I am EXTREMELY proud to be an American and I’ve always made it clear that I love my country.”
She went on to explain she believes her words were taken out of context, and apologized for “not using more discretion.”
That apology was followed up with a video posted to Youtube on Thursday, titled “Sorry Babes,” in which the singer attempted to reconcile with many of her estranged fans.
“I feel like the apology that I posted…I kind of missed my opportunity to actually, like, sincerely apologize and express how I was feeling because I was too busy preaching about my issues with the food industry, which is not, I feel like, relative,” said Grande in the video.
Watch: “Sorry Babes” by Ariana Grande