Ariana Grande has been withdrawn from headlining the Major League Baseball All-Star Concert on Saturday (July 11), with the official reason given for the withdrawal being that Grande's recovering from a wisdom teeth extraction. However, it could be her bizarre doughnut-licking behaviour over the last weekend that has seen her step down.
In CCTV footage obtained by TMZ, Grande and her rumoured boyfriend Ricky Alvarez are seen in Lake Elsinore, Califonia licking a doughnut on the counter of a doughnut shop.
"Dare me?" she asks Alvarez, before seemingly sticking her tongue on the top of one of the dougnut's glazing.
When a restaurant employee later brings a new tray of doughnuts to the counter, the singer says: "What the f**k is that? I hate Americans. I hate America."
Wednesday (July 8) morning saw Grande attempt to explain her statement along with her withdrawal from the concert, though she didn't specifically address the doughnut-licking.
She wrote: "I am EXTREMELY proud to be an American and I've always made it clear that I love my country. What I said in a private moment with my friend, who was buying the donuts, was taken out of context and I am sorry for not using more discretion with my choice of words. As an advocate for healthy eating, food is very important to me and I sometimes get upset by how freely we as Americans eat and consume things without giving any thought to the consequences that it has on our health and society as a whole. The fact that the United States has the highest child obesity rate in the world frustrates me. We need to do more to educate ourselves and our children about the dangers of overeating and the poison that we put into our bodies. We need to demand more from our food industry. However I should have known better in how I expressed myself; and with my new responsibility to others as a public figure I will strive to be better. As for why I cannot be at the MLB show, I have had emergency oral surgery and due to recovery I cannot attend the show. I hope to make it up to all those fans soon. That being said let me once again apologize if I have offended anyone with my poor choice of words."
COO, Major Baseball League Tony Petitti made no mention of the incident in a separate statement released, instead writing: "We're disappointed that Ariana Grande can not partake in the All-Star festivities, but wish her a speedy recovery".
Lovato on the other hand is hugely excited to be added to the bill, saying: "I hope my fans in Cincinnati are ready to get 'Cool For The Summer'!" - the title of her new single.
The Budweiser All-Star Concert takes place at Paul Brown Stadium, and will also feature a performance from British boyband Rixton.
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