A security video of Ariana Grande licking donuts and saying “I hate America” earlier this week in Southern California surfaced, according to the Associated Press.
The donut-licking incident is being taken much more seriously as the Lake Elsinore Police are now investigating the security video of the 22-year-old singer’s behavior at Wolfee Donuts, according to the news outlet Mercury News.
Public health officials are also reportedly taking interest in the video. Grande has since released a statement regarding the incident and her comment about hating America.
"I am EXTREMELY proud to be an American and I've always made it clear that I love my country,” said Grande in the statement, according to CNN.
“What I said in a private moment with my friend, who was buying the doughnuts, was taken out of context and I am sorry for not using more discretion with my choice of words.”
The “Love Me Harder” singer went on to explain that it was actually the way that “Americans eat and consume things without giving any thought to the consequences” that upset her.
"The fact that the United States has one of the highest child obesity rates in the world frustrates me,” stated Grande.
“We need to do more to educate ourselves and our children about the dangers of overeating and the poison that we put into our bodies. 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."
Dottie Ellis-Merki from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health reportedly stated that officials want to know why the donuts were left out in the open.
“During the investigation, the manager did state they normally don't leave doughnuts out like was shown in the video,” Ellis-Merki told AP in an e-mail.
“The employee went to the back to retrieve freshly made doughnuts by request of the customer and left the trays out while getting other trays."
