As moral panic descends, let's be brave, and critically examine the mess Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater made of everything! In this week's followup to Part One, we look into Ariana's big-break moment and her debut commercial album to learn what turned the Nickelodean actress in the world's next big superstar.

Links:

• Scooter Braun, NPR 2022: [NPR]
• 10 Fun Fitness Facts with Ariana Grande, February 29, 2012 [SHAPE]
• Kristen Stewart & Ariana Grande Talk Breakups | Interview | On Air With Ryan Seacrest, November 13, 2012 [Youtube]
• Ariana Grande Hosts Breaking Dawn Pt. 2 Premiere! | Interview | On Air Ryan Seacrest [Youtube]
• Ariana Grande Talks Breakout Hit 'The Way': Watch New Music Video, 03/28/2013 [Billboard]
• Seventeen cover girl Ariana's faced her share of tough times. Find out how she tuned out the haters and became a star, August 2013 [Seventeen]
• Life Is Grande: Ariana Grande On Her Debut Album and the Thrill of Hearing Herself on the Radio, August 22, 2013 [Elle]
• Q&A: Ariana Grande on 'Yours Truly' and Judging Miley Cyrus, September 11, 2013 [RS]
• JUSTIN BIEBER LIGHTING UP In Possible Weed Smoking Pics, 10/07/2013 [TMZ]
• Ariana Grande's Ex-Boyfriend Jai Brooks Accuses Her of Cheating With Nathan Sykes, 10/07/2013 [E! News]
• Here's what Nathan Sykes looked like: [Ariana Grande Wiki]
• Ariana Grande: 'I'm not comfortable being forwardly sexual', November 14, 2013 [Guardian]
• Yours Truly, Ariana Grande [Reddit]
• Ariana Grande: "Shadow of a Doubt" (2013 Cover Story): Ariana Grande has a pretty face and a golden voice, but the chart-topping sitcom star has a dark side, too. (Nov 05, 2013) [Complex]
• Cover Star Ariana Grande Lets You See Inside Her Crazy, Charmed Life, 12/23/2023 [Teen Vogue]
• Ariana Grande Says Her Twitter Haters Are "Evil As Hell", DEC 30, 2013 [Cosmo]
• Naya Rivera Claims She Found Ariana Grande at Then-Fiance Big Sean's House, 09/13/2016 [Us Weekly]
• Ariana Grande kept awake by 'loud frog sex', 07/21/2014 [AZ Central]
• Ariana Grande Breaks Up With Boyfriend Jai Brooks—Get the Details! 08/04/2014 [E!]
• Billboard Cover: Ariana Grande on Fame, Freddy Krueger and Her Freaky Past, August 8, 2014 [Billboard]

About:

Hosted by journalists Joan Summers and Matthew Lawson, Eating For Free is a weekly podcast that explores gossip and power in the pop culture landscape: Where it comes from, who wields it, and who suffers at the hands of it. Find out the stories behind the stories, as together they look beyond the headlines of troublesome YouTubers or scandal-ridden A-Listers, and delve deep into the inner workings of Hollywood's favorite pastime. The truth, they've found, is definitely stranger than any gossip.

You can also find us on our website, Twitter, and Instagram. Or buy our merch! Any personal, business, or general inquires can be sent to [email protected]

• Joan Summers: Twitter: @laracroftbarbie
• Matthew Lawson: Twitter: @_matthewlawson