What was meant to be a lighthearted remark has quickly snowballed into controversy, as veteran actor Robert De Niro finds himself under fire for comments about working with Ariana Grande.
The 82-year-old star’s words, now being called “kind of insulting” by fans, have sparked a wave of backlash online, with many questioning the tone and intent behind his statement.
“Robert DeNiro… literally DESTROYING their own legacy in real time…” fumed one netizen.
During a panel with co-star Ben Stiller last week in Las Vegas, Robert De Niro made headlines for his remarks about Ariana Grande
Image credits: UniversalPictures
De Niro stars alongside Grande and Stiller in the upcoming fourth installment of the Meet the Parents franchise, Focker In-Law, scheduled for a wide theatrical release on November 25 this year.
Set over 15 years after Little Fockers, the story follows Stiller’s character, who now finds himself in the shoes of his father-in-law, played by De Niro.
The central conflict begins when Stiller’s son, played by Skyler Gisondo, becomes engaged to Olivia Jones, Grande’s character, a strong-willed former FBI hostage negotiator.
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The film marks the first time De Niro has shared the big screen with the Oscar-nominated actress and singer.
The first trailer dropped on Wednesday, April 15, coinciding with Robert’s appearance alongside Stiller at CinemaCon 2026, held at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where the duo unveiled the teaser to exhibitors and audiences.
Image credits: arianagrande
As the trailer ended, De Niro reportedly gave Ariana exceptionally high praise, describing her as “probably the single most talented screen partner I’ve ever been lucky enough to share the screen with.”
In response, Stiller jokingly quipped, “In a way, she’s kind of like the new me.”
Focker In-Law marks the first time that the 82-year-old veteran actor and Ariana share the big screen
Image credits: UniversalPictures
At one point, De Niro made a comment that many netizens dubbed a “harsh jab” at Ben, as he referenced Grande’s Oscar nomination for her role as Glinda in the Wicked franchise.
He playfully asked his co-star, “She got an Oscar nomination. How many of those do you have?”
As of this writing, Stiller has not received an Academy Award nomination, despite being in the industry for decades.
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The remark, along with Robert’s praise for Grande, sparked backlash, largely because The Intern star has collaborated with several legendary actors over his career, including Meryl Streep, Joe Pesci, Jodie Foster, and Al Pacino.
One disappointed user wrote, “That’s kind of insulting to the actors you worked with…” while another added, “She’s not a terrible actor, but that’s one heck of a stretch considering the people he’s worked with. Either he didn’t say this, or its for publicity.”
“I hate when even the best of the best have to say ridiculous things to sell a new movie,” remarked a third.
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Another comment read, “He was in the godfather with like 6 legendary actors but ya sure some random pop singer is better.”
One netizen came to Ben’s defense, writing, “To be fair, Ben Stiller should have gotten an Oscar nomination for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, still inexplicable that he didn’t.”
“I really enjoy a lot of Ariana’s work but given his costar roster I find that a deeply silly thing to say,” wrote one disappointed fan
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“We all knew deniro had lost his da*n mind but this takes it to a new level. Literally no one thinks this!”
Amid the flood of negative reactions, a few supporters of the three-time Grammy winner pushed back.
One wrote, “That man has been in movies for a whole lifetime so that’s quite the compliment!”
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Another argued, “Ariana Grande could play Michael Corleone [fictional character from Godfather], but Al Pacino could not sing God is A Women.”
A third user said, “I already know her performance is gonna be amazing i can’t wait!!!”
“He might mean all around talent though. She is an incredible singer, can act, and is also very funny. I can’t say that about Al Pacino or Meryl Streep.”
Image credits: UniversalPictures
Apart from this latest controversy, the film’s trailer sparked backlash of its own due to a noticeable editing blunder.
In a bike race sequence between Grande and Stiller, viewers noticed upon closer inspection that the person falling off the bike was clearly a stunt double.
De Niro has worked with some of the most legendary stars in the industry, including Meryl Streep and Al Pacino, among others
Image credits: UniversalPictures
Highlighting the mistake, one netizen wrote, “Not a good look when you can see the stunt double in a trailer for a comedy movie.”
Another added, “The way the double stunt look nothing like her,” while a third commented, “The double is taking me out.”
The criticism also went as far as dissecting the God Is a Woman singer’s physical appearance, with many harshly dubbing her casting alongside stars like De Niro a “cash grab.”
While some viewers have criticized her casting, Ariana Grande herself has been vocal about her excitement to join the Meet the Parents franchise.
During an appearance on the Today Show in November last year, she said, “I have grown up adoring Ben.”
She added, “Every single person in the cast I have grown up worshipping, so to be able to work with them and share a creative space with them was a dream come true.”
“I sincerely believe DeNiro has dementia… Ariana may be good, but hes worked with some of the greatest,” one critic wrote
