Pete Davidson has condemned the online body shaming and speculation about Ariana Grande’s appearance, saying the criticism is “not cool” and “f–ked up”. In a Variety interview, he called Grande strong and talented, and said he believed she would manage the attention; the scrutiny had intensified after her “Petal” music video, and Grande said in August that she would step away from public life for an undisclosed period.

Davidson and Grande dated and became engaged in 2018, splitting that October, shortly after the death of Grande’s former partner Mac Miller. Grande later channelled her grief into *Thank U, Next*: its title track, which mentions Davidson, spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Davidson said he and Grande are “cool” though they are not in contact, and joked that famous ex-boyfriends could form a group.