the \u201cPodcrushed\u201d podcast<\/a>. <\/p>\nLeighton Meester, seen here at the Critics\u2019 Choice Awards with Adam Brody in January, defended her viral exchange with Ariana Grande during the \u201cPodcrushed\u201d podcast. Getty Images for Critics Choice Association<\/p>\n
She said she simply misunderstood the \u201cWicked\u201d star, seen here attending the Critics Choice Awards last month. Getty Images for FIJI Water<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then Kate [her publicist] turns around, and we both heard that, \u2018Hi, I love you. Wah, wah, wah.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t hear her,\u201d Meester continued. \u201cShe was, like, walking away. And I was like, \u2018Oh, she\u2019s kind of a comedy queen. She\u2019s just being funny.\u2019 Like, \u2018I love you. Wah, wah, wah.\u2019 Like, I thought that would be something she would do.\u201d <\/p>\n
She added, \u201cAnd so I was like, \u2018Oh, my God, that\u2019s cute and funny.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Meester then shared that she\u2019d simply misunderstood what the Nickelodeon alum had said. <\/p>\n
Meester claimed she and her publicist both misheard Grande during the brief red carpet exchange. Getty Images for FIJI Water<\/p>\n
Meester, seen here during the \u201cPodcrushed\u201d appearance on Wednesday, called the incident \u201cembarrassing.\u201d <\/p>\n
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\u201cTurns out she didn\u2019t say that,\u201d she said, adding that she \u201csaw her, like, the next week\u201d and attempted to explain the \u201cembarrassing\u201d mistake. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019s like, \u2018You thought I said wah, wah, wah? That\u2019s so funny.\u2019 And I was like, \u2018No, it\u2019s an old person not being able to hear.\u2019 Like, that is so embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n
A rep for Grande did not immediately return Page Six\u2019s request for comment. <\/p>\n
Meester faced online backlash over the encounter last month, which was shared via Instagram by E! News. <\/p>\n
Meester claimed she later attempted to explain the confusion to Grande. Kevin Mazur\/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association<\/p>\n
Though Meester faced backlash over the encounter with Grande, some didn\u2019t see the harm in the lighthearted exchange. Grande is seen here at the Golden Globes in January. Penske Media via Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cLeighton Meester The \u2018wow wow wow\u2019 was said in a mocking tone,\u201d one person remarked, while another questioned, \u201cShe is making fun of her?\u201d <\/p>\n
Others didn\u2019t see any harm in Meester\u2019s lighthearted response. <\/p>\n
\u201cEven if she was mocking her it was done in a lightness idk why some of the comments were making it serious lol I found it funny and cute,\u201d one person remarked, with another chiming in, \u201cThis is so sweet, they\u2019re both amazing women.\u201d <\/p>\n
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