Leighton Meester Misheard Ariana Grande's Greeting at Critics Choice Awards

Meester thought Grande was mocking her, but it was just a misunderstanding.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 12:15am

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Leighton Meester is clearing the air about her viral exchange with Ariana Grande at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Meester faced backlash after the January 4 awards show as fans thought the Gossip Girl alum mocked Grande when the pop star greeted her on the red carpet. However, Meester says she misheard Grande and thought the singer was poking fun at her for crying over husband Adam Brody's Critics Choice Awards win the previous year.

Why it matters

The incident highlights how quickly viral moments can spread on social media and how misunderstandings can lead to unwarranted backlash against celebrities. It also shows the importance of clear communication, especially in high-pressure situations like awards show red carpets.

The details

Meester said she was with her publicist Kate when Grande walked by and said something to her. Meester and Kate both thought Grande said, "Hi, I love you. Wah, wah, wah." Meester thought Grande was poking fun at her for crying over Brody's 2025 Critics Choice Awards win, so she responded playfully by saying "Wah, wah, wah." However, it turns out Grande was actually just greeting Meester warmly. Meester later realized her mistake and apologized to Grande the next week.

  • The incident occurred on the red carpet of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4.
  • Meester discussed the misunderstanding on the February 18, 2026 series finale of the 'Podcrushed' podcast.

The players

Leighton Meester

A 39-year-old actress best known for her role as Blair Waldorf on the TV series Gossip Girl.

Ariana Grande

A 32-year-old pop star known for hits like "Thank U, Next" and "7 Rings".

Adam Brody

A 46-year-old actor who is married to Leighton Meester and won the Best Actor in a Comedy Series award at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards for his role in the Netflix series Nobody Wants This.

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What they’re saying

“I was with Kate [my publicist]. And [Ariana] said something to me. And then Kate turns around, and we both heard that [Ariana said], 'Hi, I love you. Wah, wah, wah.'”

— Leighton Meester, Actress

“You thought I said wah, wah, wah? That's so funny.”

— Ariana Grande

The takeaway

This incident shows how quickly misunderstandings can spiral on social media, and the importance of clear communication, especially for public figures. It's a reminder that we shouldn't rush to judgment based on brief viral moments, and that there are often more nuanced explanations behind the scenes.