Ariana Grande answered an accidental wardrobe malfunction with humor, turning the moment into a cheeky pop culture callback. The singer had shared an Instagram Stories photo of herself crouching down to pet a dog when her red-and-white gingham dress opened in the front and exposed her left breast.
Instead of ignoring the slip, Grande posted a throwback clip with her best friend Elizabeth Gillies that referenced 1995’s Showgirls. The post lightly acknowledged the moment while also reviving one of the duo’s most memorable Halloween looks from 2023.
A playful response on Instagram
In the clip, Gillies points at Grande’s chest and says, “You have great t-ts. They’re really beautiful.” Grande, wearing a platinum blond wig, answers, “Thank you.” The exchange was part of their recreation of the film’s famous Nomi Malone and Cristal Connors dynamic.
Pagesix.com reported that the timing made the post feel like a deliberate wink at the earlier photo, especially since the accidental exposure had already drawn attention on social media. The reference also fit Grande’s long-running affection for the cult classic.
A cult classic reference with personal history
Though Showgirls was widely panned when it first came out, it has become a cult favorite over time. Grande and Gillies previously dressed as Elizabeth Berkley’s Nomi Malone and Gina Gershon’s Cristal Connors for Halloween in 2023, with Berkley later praising their tribute on Instagram.
Berkley wrote that Grande recreated her character “with all the love and attention to detail that only an artist with her heart and creative genius could do.” Grande responded by thanking Berkley and saying the two performers had fun paying homage to both characters.
Tour life and recent fan moments
Grande is currently on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, and the post arrived while she was actively sharing moments from that run. Elizabeth Gillies also posted a backstage photo of the two hugging after Gillies attended one of Grande’s shows.
Earlier this month, Grande broke down in tears on stage in Los Angeles while thanking fans for their support after her breakup from Wicked co-star Ethan Slater after three years of dating. She told the crowd, “This is so overwhelming in the most beautiful way ever,” and later described her fans as “such a loving, safe presence” throughout her life.