“It was really offensive. Every celebrity who’s ever come to my show— and there have been a ton—has always been so gracious and kind. But she wasn’t,” Cassandra Peterson, better known by her iconic spooky persona Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, said of Ariana Grande. The 74-year-old performer is now opening up about calling out the Wicked star publicly last year, plus her take on Grande’s subsequent apology.
In a Friday interview with Entertainment Weekly, Peterson didn’t hold back, describing Grande’s alleged past behavior as both “offensive” and “sad.” She also voiced hope that the singer might gain some “lessons” from the situation down the line.
The drama first resurfaced last October, when a video of Peterson talking to a crowd about her “worst celebrity encounter” went viral on social media—Peterson even reposted it on her Instagram. “She showed up with around 20 guests, so she asked for 20 or 21 tickets. We agreed and handed them over,” Peterson recalled at the time. “Then she came backstage and asked if I could take photos with every single friend and family member she brought. I did that—plus signed autographs for all of them. Then I turned to her and said, ‘Can we snap a photo together?’ And she just said, ‘Nah, I don’t really do that.’”
Grande later weighed in on Peterson’s Instagram post to address the claims, writing that she was “so disheartened to see this.” “I actually don’t even remember getting the chance to meet you because I had an anxiety attack. From what I recall, I left before the rest of my family,” she explained, seemingly referencing the PTSD she’s spoken about following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. “This was around seven years ago, and back then, I really struggled with being in public crowds or loud places. But if I’m misremembering this moment, I sincerely apologize for offending you.”
She added, “Thank you for being so nice to my mom—she told me how lovely you were. (She might have different feelings now, but I’ll talk to her… clearly, we all have our off days!) Sending love always. ♡ You’ll always be our Halloween queen!” Grande later appeared to delete the comment.
In her new chat with EW, Peterson said she hasn’t spoken to Grande since that comment—and made it clear she wasn’t impressed with the apology. “You know that kind of response where someone says something, but you can tell their heart isn’t in it? Like a half-hearted ‘thanks’ that doesn’t feel genuine?” she said, specifically calling out Grande’s line about her mom: “She mentioned how her mom used to really like me, but maybe not anymore.”
“After she responded like that, I just let the whole thing go,” Peterson continued. “I told a true story—she did what she did. I wasn’t making it up. It was offensive. All the other celebrities who’ve come to my shows? They’re always kind. She wasn’t. I hate to say that, but it’s true. It’s disappointing, honestly—sad, even. But what can you do?”
Still, the longtime performer held out a glimmer of hope that Grande might grow from the experience. “I think when you’re young and in show business—especially if you stick around long enough to stay famous—you learn a lot of lessons along the way. You start to get a little more humble,” Peterson said. “So I’m hoping that’s what happens with her.”