Pop sensation Ariana Grande has issued a heartfelt apology to Cassandra Peterson, famously known as Elvira, after the horror icon accused her of a “disrespectful” backstage encounter that happened two years ago. The situation came to light during a recent Q&A session at Knott’s Scary Farm in California on October 18, where Peterson recalled her unpleasant experience with the Grammy-winning singer.
During the Q&A, Elvira recounted how Grande had been dismissive of her request for a photo backstage at one of Elvira’s shows. According to Peterson, she had generously provided tickets for the pop star and her 20 guests, even taking pictures with them. However, when Elvira asked Grande for a photo, she was reportedly brushed off. To make matters worse, Peterson claimed that the singer and her entourage left before the show even started.
The story quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion on social media. Elvira further fanned the flames by sharing a screenshot of an article that detailed her account on her Instagram. It wasn’t long before Grande saw the post and responded, offering a sincere apology on October 21.
In her apology, Ariana Grande wrote, “I sincerely apologize for offending you so.” She went on to express gratitude towards Elvira for being “so nice” to her mother during their backstage meeting, noting that her mom had spoken highly of the actress after the encounter. Grande humorously added that her mother might now feel differently about it, given the controversy.
Grande also took the opportunity to explain her side of the story. In a comment on Elvira’s post, the “God Is a Woman” singer admitted she didn’t even remember meeting the horror legend, as she was struggling with an anxiety attack at the time. “Disheartened to see this. I actually don’t even remember getting the chance to meet you because I had an anxiety attack,” she wrote.
The pop star further explained that she likely left early due to the anxiety she felt in public settings, saying, “To my memory, [I] left before the rest of my family (this was around 7 years ago, and at the time I was really not great with being in public crowds and loud places).” Grande wrapped up her message by sending love to Elvira and reaffirming her admiration for the actress, calling her the “queen of Halloween.”
This incident is not the first time Ariana Grande has faced accusations of “diva” behavior. In a May 2020 interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Grande opened up about the pressures of being in the public eye. She explained that negative media portrayals have often led to misunderstandings, saying, “I would defend myself and then people would be like, ‘Oh, she’s a diva.’ And I was like, ‘This doesn’t make any sense.'”
As the dust settles on this viral story, Ariana Grande is focusing on her next major project. The singer is set to star as Glinda, the Good Witch, in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked, which is scheduled for release in U.S. theaters on November 22.
With both stars sharing their sides of the story, it seems Ariana Grande is keen to put the misunderstanding behind her, expressing her respect and admiration for Elvira despite the awkward encounter.