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Ariana Grande Reveals First Meeting with Ben Stiller Was on Zoolander 2 Set
· Confirmed
In Short: Ariana Grande revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that her first encounter with Ben Stiller occurred during the filming of Zoolander 2, where she played a cameo role in an unconventional scene.
Ariana Grande Wicked Interview 2024 03.
Ariana Grande revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that her first encounter with Ben Stiller occurred during the filming of Zoolander 2, where she played a cameo role in an unconventional scene.
According to Geo, Grande joked about the comfortability she felt with Stiller from the start, while Rolling Stone reported that she described the script as having an eclectic group of characters, including a rabbi, a pygmy hippopotamus, and Susan Sarandon.
People and The Hollywood Reporter both reported that Grande’s scene involved an orgy with a hippo, highlighting the unusual nature of the role.
Grande, appearing alongside Stiller and Robert De Niro to promote their new film Focker-in-Law, shared that her first day on set involved giving Stiller the Heimlich maneuver, as reported by News and Rolling Stone.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Grande described the experience as surreal, while People reported that she joked about the scene being part of a 'two truths and a lie' game.
Grande mentioned taking a selfie with Stiller backstage on The Tonight Show about 11 years ago, when she was with her mother.
Grande’s role in Focker-in-Law involves her character Olivia, who is the new girlfriend of Stiller’s character Greg Focker’s son, Henry.
Grande also shared a humorous anecdote about her first day on set, telling her mother, 'I gave Ben Stiller the Heimlich for a few hours,' as reported by News and Rolling Stone.
The Tonight Show also featured a skit titled 'Slow Clap Soap Opera,' showcasing the comedic chemistry between Grande, Stiller, and De Niro, as noted by News.
Grande’s appearance on The Tonight Show added to the buzz around Focker-in-Law, with People and Rolling Stone reporting that the film reunites Grande with Stiller and De Niro.
Despite the unusual nature of her role in Zoolander 2, Grande expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to work with Stiller and the cast of Focker-in-Law, as reported by all outlets.
Grande felt a sense of comfortability with Stiller from their first meeting, while People and The Hollywood Reporter noted that she described the Zoolander 2 script as unconventional and humorous.
What this adds
The outlets did not provide additional details about the specific dialogue or actions in the orgy scene, focusing instead on the overall experience and Grande's comfort with Stiller.
What's confirmed
- Ariana Grande has revealed that she first met Ben Stiller when he directed her in Zoolander 2.
- “But no. We met the stunts team, and they were amazing. And they were like, ‘All right, Ben, bend over. Ariana, you’ll get behind and just put your arms around him.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, perfect. Yeah,'” she added with a laugh.
- It stars Grande as Olivia Jones, and sees Stiller and Niro reprising their roles as Greg Focker and Jack Byrnes, respectively.
What's still developing
- Stiller jumped in with: “A connection.” Grande had a cameo in the 2016 comedy, which Stiller directed.
- Read more: Ariana Grande breaks hiatus with surprise TV appearance She joked that the two had a “comfortability” right away.
- Grande said she was honoured to be asked to join the cast, and described the script by director and writer John Hamburg.
- The appearance reunited her with Stiller, who has worked with her before, and added to the buzz around the latest instalment of the Fockers series.
- Grande’s scene comes during one of Hansel’s more outrageous storylines: the model has an unconventional romantic arrangement with a group he affectionately calls his “orgy.” In the scene, Hansel finds himself surrounded by an eclectic group of people, including Sarandon, 80, Grande in a bondage-inspired outfit, a rabbi and a pygmy hippopotamus.
- Released in 2016, Zoolander 2 follows former male models Derek Zoolander (Stiller) and Hansel ( Owen Wilson ) as they reunite in the fashion world and get caught up in an investigation into the mysterious murders of several pop stars.
- The surprising story came as Grande reunited with Stiller and Robert De Niro for the upcoming Meet the Parents franchise installment, Focker-In-Law.
- “So right off the bat we had a comfortability,” she quipped.
- The trio then participated in a game of “True Confessions,” where Grande convincingly shared a tale about falling into a tank at the Boca Aquarium when she was just four years old.
- “It sounds like two truths and a lie, but it’s my reality,” Grande laughed.
- “But no. We met the stunts team, and they were amazing. And they were like, ‘Alright, Ben, bend over. Ariana, you’ll get behind and just put your arms around him.’ ” When her mom asked how her first day went, the actress had quite the update.