Pete Davidson Criticizes Body Scrutiny of Ex Ariana Grande
The comedian described the online chatter surrounding the singer as "f--ked up" but expressed confidence in her ability to handle it.
Pete Davidson has spoken out against the intense public scrutiny of his former fiancée, Ariana Grande’s, body, describing it as “f–ked up.” In a profile published by Variety on Wednesday, the comedian expressed his concerns about the online discourse surrounding the singer.
Grande announced in August that she was “taking a step back from visibility” due to persistent concerns about her weight. Davidson, who had a high-profile relationship with Grande in 2018, stated that he “doesn’t like it at all” and finds the situation “not cool.”
He acknowledged Grande's resilience, saying, “She’s a really strong person — I’ve witnessed it — and I don’t understand it. She knows how to handle this stuff though. She’s been around. So she’ll be OK, but I think it’s fucked up.”
In August, Grande addressed the negativity during her “Eternal Sunshine” tour, telling fans that “no matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me … as this love that we share.” Following the conclusion of her tour on September 1, Grande has reportedly been staying in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, Ricky Alvarez, whom she previously dated from 2015 to 2016.
Grande and Davidson were engaged in 2018 after a brief romance, but they ended their relationship in October of that year. Grande has referenced Davidson in several songs, including “Thank U, Next” and “Pete Davidson.” In a 2019 interview, she described him as an “amazing distraction” who was “frivolous and fun … and highly unrealistic.” Davidson later responded to her portrayal of their past relationship in a 2022 standup special.
Davidson also touched on his own recent experiences in the Variety interview, including becoming a father to his daughter Scottie with ex Elsie Hewitt and his past struggles with substance abuse. He described his previous daily drug regimen as including liquid ketamine, acid, mushrooms, whippets, and cannabis.
Despite their past, Davidson called Grande an “awesome girl” who is “f–king cool” and “immensely talented.” He clarified their current relationship, stating, “We’re not texting or whatever, but we’re cool.”