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The Fashion Central
The Fashion Central
George Hughes

Leighton Meester Explains Viral ‘Wow’ Moment With Ariana Grande at Critics' Choice Awards 2026

Leighton Meester Ariana Grande Adam Brody Critics Choice Awards
(Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association; Shutterstock)

Leighton Meester is setting the record straight after a brief exchange with Ariana Grande at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards sparked online speculation. During last month’s ceremony, cameras caught Grande warmly greeting Meester on the red carpet, saying, “Love you so much.

Wow, wow wow,” as they passed each other. The clip quickly went viral on social media after Meester was seen repeating “Wow, wow, wow” and laughing moments later. Some viewers interpreted her reaction as mocking the singer.

Now, Meester says that was never the case. Speaking on Podcrushed, the podcast hosted by her former Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgley, Meester explained that the moment was simply a misunderstanding fueled by red carpet chaos.

“I couldn’t hear her. She was walking away,” Meester said, recalling the interaction. At the time, she was walking alongside her publicist and struggling to make out what Grande had said over the noise of the event. Meester believed Grande had playfully referenced a moment from the previous year’s ceremony, when Meester became emotional as her husband, Adam Brody, accepted an award.

According to Meester, Grande jokingly said, “Wah, wah, wah,” in a teasing tone, as if she were lightly poking fun at her tears. Assuming it was all in good humor, Meester echoed the phrase and laughed. It wasn’t until later that she realized she had completely misheard the comment. Grande had actually said, “Love you so much. Wow, wow wow,” and there was no joke involved.

Meester said she cleared up the confusion the following week when she saw Grande again. She described the mix-up as awkward but ultimately funny, emphasizing that there was no ill will between them.

The clarification appears to put an end to online chatter suggesting tension between the two performers. The short clip had quickly gained traction, with fans dissecting body language and tone in the absence of a clear audio context.

@podcrushed

We can finally put this to bed!#arianagrande #leightonmeester #awardsshow #embarrassingstory

♬ original sound – Podcrushed

The incident underscores how quickly red carpet interactions can be amplified online. In the fast-moving world of social media, even a few seconds of footage can spark widespread speculation before the full story emerges.

For Meester, the takeaway seems simple: sometimes a loud room and a quick exchange can lead to a misunderstanding that takes on a life of its own once cameras are involved.

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