Ariana Grande is “disheartened” after hearing actress Cassandra Peterson, also known as Elvira, recall a disappointing encounter between the two years ago.
In a recent viral YouTube and TikTok video, Peterson, 73, had recalled one of her worst celebrity interactions, alleging at an onstage horror-themed event that the “Thank U, Next” singer once refused to take a photo with her after asking she pose with a large group of Grande’s friends and relatives. Peterson’s remarks drew boos from the crowd.
Grande, 31, commented on the post the following day, writing on Oct. 21 that she was “so disheartened to see this.”
“i actually don’t even remember getting the chance to meet you because i had an anxiety attack and to my memory, left before the rest of my family (this was around 7 years ago and at the time i was really not great with being in public crowds or loud places),” Grande said in her comment.
“but if i’m misremembering this moment, i sincerely apologize for offending you so,” she added. “thank you for being so nice to my mom, she told me how lovely you were (she might have different feelings about that now but i’ll talk to her… clearly, we all have our days!)”
Grande concluded by writing that she was “sending love always. ♡ you’ll always be our queen of halloween!”
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On social media, fans of both Grande and Peterson have been sounding off on the recollection of their meeting, with many pointing out that it appeared to have taken place years ago.
The timeline indicated by Grande appears to place the Peterson incident in the same year as the 2017 Manchester bombing at the U.K. arena she was performing at. Twenty-two people, many of whom were young fans, were killed and hundreds more were injured.
Grande has spoken about her anxiety before, particularly in the wake of the terrorist attack. “I’ve always had anxiety,” she told Vogue U.K. in 2018. “I’ve never really spoken about it because I thought everyone had it, but when I got home from tour it was the most severe I think it’s ever been.”
Grande most recently attended the Academy Museum Gala, which was held in Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 19, sharing photos of the evening on Instagram.
At the event, she posed with Wicked costar Cynthia Erivo ahead of the Nov. 22 theatrical release of the first part of the stage-to-screen musical adaptation. A second installment, Wicked: Part Two, is slated for release on Nov. 26, 2025.
