Pop star Madison Beer recently opened up about a viral meme and the significant backlash she received in 2018 after claiming she was slated to appear in Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” music video. During an appearance on Owen Thiele’s In Your Dreams podcast, Beer, who is currently on her Locket Tour, recounted the intense criticism she faced for merely stating that Ariana Grande had wanted her for the Mean Girls-inspired visual, but scheduling conflicts prevented her participation.

Beer explained the gravity of the situation at the time, noting, “It really was that serious. But you have to realize that back then it was not received well.” She described being widely hated and labeled “the cringiest person alive” by many who accused her of lying. The 27-year-old artist reflected on her initial excitement, saying, “The truth is, I was just overly excited about it. I was surrounded by fans who were being so sweet and supportive. ‘Thank U, Next’ had just come out and I thought I was spilling tea.”

What most aggravated Beer was the persistent accusation that she was fabricating the story. “That felt so crazy that people were accusing my character of just making that up,” she added. In her younger days, she was so incensed by the disbelief that she considered posting proof to validate her claim about the video cameo. However, she ultimately chose not to, letting go of the need to convince her detractors.

This experience served as a crucial “learning curve” for Beer’s career. “It was kind of sad,” she admitted, “It was a good learning curve for me though, because I feel like I was able to be like, ‘It doesn’t really matter what people think.’ I never posted proof. I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to let go.’” This decision marked a significant moment in her personal and professional development, teaching her to prioritize her own peace over external validation.

Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2018, with its highly anticipated music video released at the end of that month. Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the visual famously paid homage to iconic 2000s teen comedies, including “Bring It On,” “Mean Girls,” “13 Going on 30,” and “Legally Blonde.” It featured a star-studded cast of Hollywood cameos, such as Jennifer Coolidge, Colleen Ballinger, Jonathan Bennett, and reality television personality Kris Jenner.

Despite missing out on the cameo, Madison Beer continues to admire Ariana Grande, referring to her as an inspiration. Beer’s career has continued to flourish, as she is currently on the European leg of her Locket Tour, with upcoming shows in major cities like Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, and Manchester. The North American leg is set to commence in Austin on June 8. This extensive tour supports her 2026 Locket album, which was released in January and achieved a top 10 position on the Billboard 200.