Ariana Grande Donutgate: Fan Fury Escalates Over Singer’s ‘Disrepectful’ Behavior

If Ariana Grande thought her apology over her 'I Hate Americans' comments would silence fans' outrage, she was wrong. With police and the health department investigating her doughnut-licking actions, her critics are even more furious. Ariana Grande, 22, is finding herself at the center of what's shaping up to be the most delicious scandal of 2015. When Ari licked that doughnut and put it back on July 4 at Lake Elsinore, CA’s Wolfee Donuts, it's unlikely that she was thinking about the consequences, which now includes the wrath of 1) a slighted donut owner, 2) actor and resident hottie Rob Lowe, and 3) all of Twitter. Ariana, America is not going to take this sitting down!

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July 9, 2015 1:54PM EDT
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Ariana GrandeBillboard's 13th Annual Women in Music, Arrivals, New York, USA - 06 Dec 2018Wearing Christian Siriano Custom
EXCLUSIVE: Ariana Grande and her husband Dalton Gomez indulge in Crepes from the famous La Creperie de Hampstead. The pint-sized pop star who is in the capital filming Wicked parts 1 & 2 looked adorable in an oversized coat, platform trainers, and a pink face mask that she removed to take some selfies near the popular stand that serves sweet and savoury french crêpes and has been a Hampstead favorite for many years. 23 Jan 2023 Pictured: Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez. Photo credit: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA939190_041.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
EXCLUSIVE: Ariana Grande and her husband Dalton Gomez indulge in Crepes from the famous La Creperie de Hampstead. The pint-sized pop star who is in the capital filming Wicked parts 1 & 2 looked adorable in an oversized coat, platform trainers, and a pink face mask that she removed to take some selfies near the popular stand that serves sweet and savoury french crêpes and has been a Hampstead favorite for many years. 23 Jan 2023 Pictured: Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez. Photo credit: MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA939190_002.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
Image Credit: Courtesy of Twitter


(Okay, people on Twitter are probably sitting down, but you get the point.) For those just tuning in now, on July 4, Ariana and her backup dancer, Ricky Alvarez, were caught on a security camera licking a bunch of donuts before putting them back on the tray while the owner steps away. In the video, Ariana comments, “What the f–k is that? I hate Americans. I hate America,” while looking at the donuts. Fans immediately interpreted the comments as fat-shaming, and an outburst ensued.

HollywoodLife obtained an exclusive interview with Wolfee Donuts owner Joe Marin. He demanded that Ariana apologize for her deed: “I want an apology,” Joe told us. “We are reaching out to the customers but it wasn’t until the next morning when I watched the tape that I caught them licking and spitting, I call it spitting on the doughnuts.” Ariana then apologized for her comments. She explained in a statement that her words were “taken out of context” and how sometimes she gets “upset by how freely we as Americans eat and consume things without giving any thought to the consequences.” Meanwhile, Parks and Recreation star Rob Lowe didn’t buy it, and he tweeted:

Fans Take To Social Media To Slam Ariana Grande’s ‘I Hate America’ Comments

Meanwhile, Riverside County public health officials began an investigation of the donut shop on July 9, since the sullied doughnuts were left out unprotected and exposed. #donutgate became a hashtag, and fans continue to express their rage. See their reactions below:

HollywoodLifers, are you outraged by Ariana Grande’s donut-licking antics? Let us know!

— Gabriella Ginsberg