Leighton Meester's red carpet moment 'mocking' Ariana Grande sparks buzz online

The brief interaction between Grande and Meester at the Critics Choice Awards has divided viewers online

A brief exchange between Ariana Grande and Leighton Meester on the Critics Choice Awards red carpet has gone viral, prompting mixed reactions across social media.

The moment occurred on Sunday night as both stars attended the ceremony in Los Angeles. Leighton Meester rose to prominence playing Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl and was present with her husband Adam Brody, who was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Nobody Wants This.

Ariana Grande, meanwhile, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Glinda in Wicked: For Good.

Footage captured by E! shows the two women briefly interacting as Grande headed into the venue while Meester and Brody paused for photographs. After making eye contact and waving, Grande told Meester, “Love you so much.” As she walked away, Grande placed her hand on her chest and added, “Wow, wow, wow.”

Wow, wow, wow. 🤩 This moment between Ariana Grande, Leighton Meester, and Adam Brody has changed us for good. #CriticsChoice #AwardsSeason pic.twitter.com/I3bpqrdLvZ

— E! News (@enews) January 4, 2026

Moments later, Meester turned to a woman standing beside her and repeated, in a deadpan tone, “Wow, wow, wow,” before pulling a face and laughing. The clip was widely shared on X, where some users accused Meester of mocking Grande’s enthusiasm.

However, others defended Meester’s reaction. 

The short clip continues to circulate, highlighting how brief celebrity interactions can quickly become a focus of online interpretation and debate.