Ariana Grande is "extremely proud to be an American."
Ariana Grande
The 'One More Time' hitmaker, who was captured on a security camera saying she "hates" her country while with friends at Wolfee Donuts in Lake Elsinore, California over the weekend, insists her comments were taken out of context.
In a statement, the 21-year-old singer said: "I am EXTREMELY proud to be an American and I've always made it clear that I love my country. What I said in a private moment with my friend, who was buying the donuts, was taken out of context and I am sorry for not using more discretion with my choice of words."
The Florida-native was caught slamming her country on a video, obtained by gossip website TMZ.com, moments after kissing her back-up dancer Ricky Alvarez and cheekily licking some sweet treats in the bakery.
After a member of staff brought out a new tray of donuts, Ariana declared: "What the f**k is that? I hate Americans. I hate America! That's disgusting."
But she now insists she didn't mean to offend anyone and was merely frustrated by the unhealthy food.
In the statement, she continued: "As an advocate for healthy eating, food is very important to me and I sometimes get upset by how freely we as Americans eat and consume things without giving any thought to the consequences that it has on our health and society as a whole.
"However I should have known better in how I expressed myself; and with my new responsibility to others as a public figure I will strive to be better."
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