Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Ariana Grande on First Time Meeting Ben Stiller: “Directing Me in an Orgy Scene in ‘Zoolander 2’”
Ariana Grande recalled first meeting Ben Stiller while he was directing her in an orgy scene for Zoolander 2, a cameo she said helped them feel comfortable with each other. The story came up during a joint appearance with Stiller and Robert De Niro on The Tonight Show, where they discussed their new film, Focker-in-Law.
Grande also described an unusual first scene with Stiller on the new film: rehearsing a Heimlich manoeuvre with the stunt team. In Focker-in-Law, her character Olivia Jones is set to marry Stiller’s on-screen son, Henry, despite seeming an unlikely match. The appearance marked Grande’s return to public view after her Eternal Sunshine Tour ended in September and a period away from public-facing work.
In short
- Grande first met Stiller while filming an unusual Zoolander 2 scene.
- Their first Focker-in-Law rehearsal involved a Heimlich manoeuvre.
- The new comedy stars Grande alongside Stiller and Robert De Niro.
Explained simply
Ben Stiller is an actor and filmmaker known for comedies including Zoolander, while Ariana Grande is a singer and actor. Grande made a brief appearance in Zoolander 2, the 2016 follow-up to Stiller’s fashion-world satire, which he directed.
They are now appearing together in Focker-in-Law, a comedy connected to the Meet the Parents film series. Stiller plays a father whose son, Henry, is due to marry Olivia Jones, played by Grande; Robert De Niro also appears in the film.
The casting brings Grande into a long-running comedy franchise and pairs her with actors known for established screen roles. Their earlier work together provides context for how they came to know each other before making the new film.