New York Daily News
Bette Midler supposed to present Billboard award to Ariana Grande, calls in ”˜sick’ prior to event
BY MARIANNE GARVEY, BRIAN NIEMIETZ AND OLI COLEMAN Saturday, December 13, 2014, 11:20 AM
Ariana Grande was honored at the Billboard Women in Music event Friday, but Bette Midler, who was supposed to present her the award, called in “sick” to the show.
Producers had hoped to milk the fight between Midler and Grande for publicity, but instead Grande’s brother Frankie handed her the Rising Star award.
“It was supposed to be a fun/funny/makeup session,” an insider tells Confidenti@l. “But Bette got sick at the last minute and couldn’t show. Both of them were on board to do it. They were going to have fun with it and be supportive of each other.”
Last month, Midler did an interview with The Telegraph, in which she dissed Grande, saying: “It’s always surprising to see someone like Ariana Grande with that silly high voice, a very wholesome voice, slithering around on a couch…looking so ridiculous. I mean it’s silly beyond belief and I don’t know who’s telling her to do it.”
Midler took it even further, adding “trust your talent. You don’t have to make a whore out of yourself to get ahead.”
After Grande took the stage and shared the honor with her mom.
“I want to thank my mama for teaching me to work hard — and that behind every successful woman is herself,” Grande said.
