Shameless Summer Scandal: The many iterations of Ariana Grande
Jan 4, 2026
Dive into the colorful life of Ariana Grande, from her early days in community theater to her breakout role in Nickelodeon's Victorious. Explore the shocking fallout of the infamous 'DonutGate' and how her relationships with Mac Miller and Pete Davidson shaped her journey. The podcast highlights the humanitarian response to the Manchester attack and Ariana's powerful One Love benefit concert. Discover her transition into the Wicked movies and the drama surrounding her recent split from Dalton Gomez. A whirlwind tour of fame, music, and personal highs and lows!
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Donut Incident Became A PR Crisis
- The 2015 “donut licking” viral video blew up into a PR crisis when Ariana appeared to say, "I hate America."
- She issued two apologies and a corrective video, which ultimately muted lasting damage.
Manchester Shifted Her Role
- The Manchester Arena bombing reframed Ariana's public role from pop star to trauma-visible leader.
- Her swift organisation of One Love Manchester showed music's power for fundraising and communal healing.
Mac Miller: Love And Complexity
- Ariana and Mac Miller's relationship began through collaboration and was publicly affectionate.
- Their split involved complex debates about sobriety, responsibility, and public blame.
