Leighton Meester Explains Viral Interaction With Ariana Grande

Leighton Meester clarified a viral exchange with Ariana Grande from the January 2026 Critics Choice Awards during an appearance on the "Podcrushed" podcast.The 39-year-old actress explained she misheard a shouted greeting from Ariana Grande and responded with a playful "Wah, wah, wah" under the mistaken impression she was being mocked.This explanation follows weeks of social media speculation suggesting Leighton Meester had intentionally insulted the singer during the red carpet event.