Leighton Meester addresses viral Ariana Grande interaction on Critics Choice Awards red carpet

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Leighton Meester is now talking about the funny moment she unexpectedly bumped into Ariana Grande on the red carpet last month.

Meester explained the quick conversation she had with the 32-year-old singer at the Critics Choice Awards in early January, and shared that she later saw Grande again.

Leighton Meester, 39, said a recent red carpet encounter on January 4th was ’embarrassing’ for both her and her husband, Adam Brody, 46.

Fans criticized Meester, accusing her of making fun of Grande by echoing her words and then laughing.

At the time, Grande had walked by and exclaimed in awe: ‘I love you so much. Wow, wow, wow.’ 

In a video from E! News, Meester responded to Grande with a smile and an attempt to mimic her, but mistakenly said ‘Wah, wah, wah’ instead.

Social media users had varying reactions, with some claiming Meester seemed to be mocking comments made by Grande.

Others came to the actress’s defense and insisted she was being playful.

More than a month after the incident, Blake Lively spoke about it on the final episode of Penn Badgley’s podcast, Podcrushed, which aired on Wednesday.

I was so excited to hear she actually ran into Ariana again just a week later! She told me all about it, and it was amazing to hear how that second meeting went. It felt like a little piece of magic for all of us fans.

Blake Lively remembered being with her publicist, Kate, at the Critics Choice Awards when Ariana Grande said something to her. Lively and Kate then both overheard Grande add, ‘Hi, I love you. Wah, wah, wah.’

Meester said she thought Grande was alluding to the time Meester teared up when Brody won a Critics Choice Award for his performance in ‘Nobody Wants This’.

Meester believed Grande was making fun of her after overhearing a conversation she and her publicist had about Meester crying at the 2025 awards show.

I couldn’t hear what she was saying because she was walking away. At first, I thought she was just joking around, being playful. It felt like she was playfully dismissing me, almost like a dramatic performance of sadness – saying ‘I love you’ but in a way that felt insincere.

I expected her to do something like that, and I thought it was really cute and funny.

After the video of their conversation spread online, Meester realized she had misunderstood what Grande had actually said.

Meester clarified that the woman hadn’t actually said that. He saw her a week later and admitted he’d mistakenly thought she was the one who had.

She pointed out that I seemed to think she’d said “wah, wah, wah,” and she found it hilarious. I realized I’d actually mistaken an elderly person’s mumbling for those sounds, which was really awkward.

I was so thrilled to see Meester at the Critics Choice Awards last month! She was there to support her husband, Brody, and looked absolutely stunning walking the red carpet. It was a really sweet moment, and I’m so happy for them both.

The actor, best known for his role on The OC, has been nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for the second season of his popular Netflix show, Nobody Wants This.

The show was also up for the award for Best Comedy Series, and several of his colleagues were nominated for their performances, including co-star Kristen Bell and supporting actors Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons.

Meester also played a guest star role in the second season. 

Seth Rogen won the best actor award this year for his performance in the Apple TV series, The Studio.

The previous year, Brody took home the award for his role in the debut season of Nobody Wants This. 

He thanked his wife during his speech, and Meester was moved to tears watching him from the audience.

Last year, he expressed his deep love for his wife, Leighton, thanking her for sharing her life and building a family with him. He finished by saying he loved her with all his heart.

Meester and Brody have been married for over a decade. 

The pair met in 2011 and costarred that year in the indie film The Oranges.

They went on to begin dating in early 2013, and the following year they tied the knot.

The couple have two children: a 10-year-old daughter named Arlo, and a five-year-old son whose name they haven’t shared with the public yet.

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2026-02-19 05:49