Pete Davidson Criticizes Online Criticism of Ex-Fiancée Ariana Grande’s Appearance

Pete Davidson spoke out against the negative online commentary directed at his former fiancée, Ariana Grande, in a cover story interview with Variety published Wednesday (Sept. 30).

Discourse surrounding Grande intensified over the summer as commenters speculated on her appearance and slender figure. Scrutiny increased further following the release of her “Petal” music video, leading Grande to announce in August that she would step away from the public eye for an undisclosed period.

“I don’t like it at all,” Davidson told the publication of the vitriol. “It’s not cool. She’s a really strong person — I’ve witnessed it — and I don’t understand it.”

Grande and the Saturday Night Live alumnus started dating and became engaged within months in 2018, splitting by the end of October that year. Their breakup occurred about a month after the death of Mac Miller, whom the Wicked actor had dated for nearly two years before Davidson.

During that period, Grande grieved her ex while facing criticism from certain Miller fans who blamed her for the rapper’s fatal overdose. Months earlier, she pushed back against claims that she was responsible for Miller’s DUI crash in May 2018 simply because she had ended their relationship and moved on with Davidson.

“She knows how to handle this stuff though,” the King of Staten Island star told Variety regarding Grande. “She’s been around. She’ll be OK, but I think it’s f–ked up.”

Following Miller’s death and her breakup with Davidson, Grande focused on music and released her Billboard 200-topping album Thank U, Next. The title track, which mentions Davidson, spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as her first solo chart-topper.

The Bodies Bodies Bodies actor has discussed being the inspiration for the breakup song in his stand-up routines. In the new interview, he joked that “there should be a group” for famous ex-boyfriends like himself and Jake Gyllenhaal, the presumed subject of Taylor Swift’s No. 1 hit “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).”

“It’s something that comes up once in a while,” Davidson added of “Thank U, Next.” “But I think Ariana’s f–kin’ cool and immensely talented and an awesome girl. We’re not texting or whatever, but we’re cool.”

Grande is currently in a relationship with Ricky Alvarez, having rekindled their romance earlier this year after dating the dancer in 2016. Davidson welcomed his daughter, Scottie, with ex Elsie Hewitt in December 2025.

“Scottie is my whole life,” the comedian told the publication. “I was living or dying on this business and what I thought people thought of me … but as soon as I saw her for the first time, I was like, ‘Oh my God, none of this f–kin’ matters at all. It’s a job. If I get to do cool stuff, great; if not, cool, I get to be home more with my kid.’”

Check out Davidson on the cover of Variety below.