At the 2025 MTV VMAs, held on a Sunday, there were allegations that Frankie Grande, Ariana Grande’s sibling, may have subtly criticized or made a sarcastic remark about Tate McRae.
He seemed to frown deeply and shake his head as he watched the young pop artist play a blend of her popular songs, “Revolving Door” and “Sports Car.
From a backstage perspective, the 42-year-old Broadway star could be spotted gazing intently towards the illuminated stage, as the background filled with flashing lights and the sounds of music played.
Later on, supporters shared snippets of footage from earlier moments on social media, which later showed him expressing his opinions about McRae’s performance.
He sat in the first few rows, next to Ariana and their family, prior to his famous sister winning the Moon Person Award for Video of the Year for Brighter Days Ahead. She was the one who took the stage.
Several individuals on social media noted his response and labeled it as overly dramatic, suggesting he was fueling negativity or hostility.
Ariana’s brother watching Tate McRae at the #VMAs
— TheGrandeTop10 (@TheGrandeTop10) September 8, 2025
Some fans said that he was ‘unimpressed’ because of his vocal powerhouse of a sister.
Others suggested that he merely mimicked Rihanna’s well-known, often misunderstood response to a supermodel’s stunning catwalk appearance.
Later on, it appeared as if he was indeed endorsing fans’ theories that his expression of distaste was actually a disguise for appreciation, since he began commending the rising talent instead.
During the live stream from the VMAs, he moved closer to the microphone with enthusiasm, expressing his admiration for the Sports Car singer.
In a recent video, Frankie expressed, “I adore Tate McRae. I can’t get enough of her. Today, she looks stunning, and her makeup artist really outdid themselves.
Furthermore, fans posted a video capturing the moment when Ariana greeted McRae and Frankie excitedly reached out to shake hands with her.
Yet, some believed his actions were an attempt at “cleaning up the mess” or “repairing the damage” following the scrutiny on social media, particularly from fans of McRae, who began highlighting his response to McRae’s performance on platforms like Twitter.
One user of X posted: ‘I assumed I was alone in noticing this, but why does he keep making that expression…’
As a die-hard fan of Tate McRae, I can’t contain my excitement! Frankie Grande praised her on the VMAs “Celeb POV” stream, and let me tell you, I’m head over heels in love with this incredible talent. Today, she looked stunning, and I must give a shout-out to her makeup artist for slaying the look! 💄💖
— Tate McRae Tour & Updates (@t8mcraetours) September 8, 2025
Another person joked that he ‘saw Tate come for Ariana’s crown now he’s mad.’
‘This makes him seem like a hater [not gonna lie],’ one fan wrote alongside a crying emoji.
One person tweeted, ‘It’s clear that someone must be really terrible if even Frankie Grande can’t stand a popular female singer,’ accompanied by a weeping emoji.
Instead, some supporters defended him and attributed the issue to the flashing lights. One individual mused that perhaps he had given her a “Rihanna-like” expression, though it was unclear.
Another person said it ‘seems weird but I think he’s like disgusted cause she’s good.’
There were also fans pointing out that he seemed kind when meeting her.
Frankie was at the awards show to lend his support to his younger sister Ariana.
This year at the Video Music Awards, the star earned two prestigious honors: Best Pop Award and Video of the Year accolade.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m thrilled to share that my latest single, “Brighter Days Ahead,” along with its accompanying music video, has earned me the top spot in two categories! It feels incredibly rewarding to see hard work and passion pay off in such a significant way.
Before Ariana received her Moon Person awards, there was an embarrassing incident involving her and Sabrina Carpenter that gained attention.
The fellow pop stars were both accused of ‘acting fake’ after leaked footage of their awkward hug.
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2025-09-08 08:48