A group of teens who call themselves the “Donut Squad” have jumped to defend Ariana Grande on Instagram by posting doughnut-licking selfies to an account, called “Lick_Donuts_With_Ari.“
The page, which has more than three-thousand active followers since its first post about a week ago, asks fans to lick a pastry in solidarity with Grande, who was caught saying she “hates America” and “hates Americans” on a security camera while licking doughnuts last week in Lake Elsinore, California.
“If she licks we ALL LICK with her,” reads the Instagram page bio. “Ariana Grande loves America. She doesn’t hate America.”
While some of the teens can be seen licking actual doughnuts in the colorful images, other have posted selfies with doughnut emojis placed on their tongues.
The new page comes days after Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon also urged her followers to lick a doughnut in solidarity with Grande.
“Today, lick a doughnut in solidarity with @ArianaGrande. A sweet, talented, true American,” said Sarandon.
Grande has since apologized for the doughnut-licking escapade in both a written statement and Youtube video, and many of her fans have apparently decided to stand beside her through the storm.
Based off the comments on her last post to social media, though, others have not be so forgiving.
WE’VE GOT A DONUT LICKER ON THE LOOSE! Welcome @mooonlight.grande TO THE DONUT SQUAD! This MUNCHSKIN is risking the cuffs to fight for @arianagrande and stop the haters! #weforgiveyouari #donutsquad #purpleheartsforari #staystrongari #arianators #lickdonutswithari#arrestme
A photo posted by Lick Donuts With Ari (@lick_donuts_with_ari) on Jul 13, 2015 at 7:09pm PDT
These BRAVE MUNCHSKINS have just joined the DONUT SQUAD! @ashley___s Everyone welcome them and remember to keep up the good work!!! Keep tagging @arianagrande keep posting selfies keep #lickdonutswithari #arianagrande A photo posted by Lick Donuts With Ari (@lick_donuts_with_ari) on Jul 13, 2015 at 8:30am PDT
A photo posted by Lick Donuts With Ari (@lick_donuts_with_ari) on Jul 11, 2015 at 10:33pm PDT
A photo posted by Lick Donuts With Ari (@lick_donuts_with_ari) on Jul 14, 2015 at 3:48pm PDT