Pete Davidson Slams Body Shaming of Ex-Fiancée Ariana Grande

Pete Davidson gave a blunt response when asked about the online harassment of his ex-fiancée, Ariana Grande.

Grande had been the subject of a wave of speculation, concern and bullying regarding her physical appearance following images of the actress-singer going viral in late July.

In an interview with Variety, Davidson said, “I don’t like it at all. It’s not cool. She’s a really strong person — I’ve witnessed it — and I don’t understand it. She knows how to handle this stuff though. She’s been around. So she’ll be OK, but I think it’s fucked up.”

The actor also gave an update on the status of their relationship (the two dated for about five months in 2018 and got engaged). “I think Ariana’s fuckin’ cool and immensely talented and an awesome girl,” he said. “We’re not texting or whatever, but we’re cool.”

Grande received renewed speculation about her weight and appearance in the wake of her album Petal and its title track video. On Aug. 2, Grande’s representative announced she would “take a step back from visibility … which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny” following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which ended Sept. 1.

Grande also withdrew from the upcoming London West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George, which was scrapped after Jonathan Bailey also exited the production.

The singer later pushed back, however, on the idea that body shaming was the reason for her taking a “step back,” saying at a concert stop in Chicago on Aug. 4 that the break wasn’t “reactive or impulsive” and that she had planned it “a long time ago.”

Meanwhile, Davidson is currently promoting his upcoming dramatic role in David Leitch’s heist movie How to Rob a Bank, a role for which he packed on 15 pounds of muscle to play a war veteran who robs banks to support his family. The film will be released in theaters Nov. 13.