Ariana Grande's video for breakup anthem 'Thank U, Next' debuts — and the internet loves it
Ariana Grande’s video for her “Thank U, Next” breakup video has lived up to the hype.
After more than a week of teases, the breakup anthem inspired by her split from Pete Davidson finally debuted on Friday afternoon. Perhaps no one was more impatient than the pop star herself — she actually tweeted Vevo and YouTube asking them to premiere it early — though Arianators were admittedly restless themselves. It proved worth the wait though, since the hit song was delightfully brought to life with a pop culture flare that included tributes to Mean Girls, Bring It On, Legally Blonde and 13 Going on 30.
While a lot of that was leaked by the star herself over the last week or so — we knew she’d channel Rachel McAdams’s Regina George, Reese Witherspoon’s Elle Woods, Jennifer Garner’s Jenna Rink and Kirsten Dunst’s Torrance Shipman (the toothbrushing competition!) — there were other surprises. The best was a cameo by Kris Jenner doing what she does best — being a stage mom.
The video also featured Legally Blonde’s Jennifer Coolidge (whom Grande did a mean impression of even before this), and that exchange was one of the funniest. Grande talks to her about her ex’s parts — a likely reference to Davidson’s “big d*** energy” — and Coolidge thought she meant big front tooth.
Grande’s one-time Victorious co–star Matt Bennett, Mean Girls’ Jonathan Bennett and Stefanie Drummond, Dynasty actress Elizabeth Gillies (looking a lot like Lindsay Lohan from Mean Girls), singer Troye Sivan and YouTube stars Colleen Ballinger and Gabi DeMartino were also included. So was Grande’s own dog Toulouse, who played Bruiser (the real Bruiser died a few years ago).
A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Nov 24, 2018 at 7:37am PST
The internet decided rather quickly that it was worth the wait for the video. Jenner was one of the first to post about it, sharing with the Kardashian nation that she was in it.
thank u, next, bitch 😉 https://t.co/sAvONID1hn
— Kris Jenner (@KrisJenner) November 30, 2018
I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom. 😉 https://t.co/GGpPNUC4N2 @ArianaGrande
— Kris Jenner (@KrisJenner) November 30, 2018
And the video’s director wrote that she loved Ari, “these movies, and this message.”
@arianagrande THANK U, NEXT
💋💘🎬
Love this woman, these movies, and this message. Thank u, next…bitch. 💕MASSIVE LOVE to the HUGE team effort on this one!
🙏🏽🙌🏽?
Produced by @bbonfiglio… https://t.co/PMH648gG3a— HANNAH LUX DAVIS (@HANNAHLUXDAVIS) November 30, 2018
Bennett asked toothpaste companies to rate his brushing.
Hey @Crest @Colgate @Listerine @Sensodyne_US on a scale of 1-10 how would you rate my brushing? https://t.co/11xQBcMIPQ
— Matt As Well Swim Bennett (@MattBennett) November 30, 2018
And Ari’s mama gave it two thumbs up.
INCREDIBLE!!!! it's the best video I have ever seen… yes, I'm your mom .. I get it! very proud of you @arianagrande … Ariana Grande – thank u, next https://t.co/ntBONCnhWC via @YouTube
— Joan Grande (@joangrande) November 30, 2018
Her bro loved it too.
GREATEST GREATEST GREATEST VIDEO I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!! GAGGED!!! YES ARIANA!!!!!!! 😝😝😝??????🙏🙏🙏👸🏼👸🏼👸🏼 #ThankUNextVideo https://t.co/eB6pAmdRdW
— Frankie James Grande (@FrankieJGrande) November 30, 2018
And her pal.
honestly, this is an iconic masterpiece. it’s everything i loved from my middle school years but starring the humans i love. #ThankYouNext https://t.co/MWB8lQNIX5
— Zach Sang (@zachsang1) November 30, 2018
Witherspoon herself was delighted that Elle Woods played a part.
View this post on Instagram
Thank u, next 👏🏼💖 @arianagrande #ElleWoodsForever #ThinkPink
A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on Nov 30, 2018 at 3:00pm PST
Mark Ruffalo liked it.
Having some Razzles (it’s a candy AND a gum) in your honor, @ArianaGrande! #thankunext https://t.co/5QA1pNtbiO
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 30, 2018
So did the Mean Girls handle.
You can definitely sit with us…this is like, a really huge deal.
— Mean Girls (@MeanGirls) November 30, 2018
Beyond that, though, other folks loved on it too.
That was extremely worth the build. Thank u.
— Debanjali Bose (@debanjalibose93) November 30, 2018
i just finished watching thank u, next & omg. iconic. @ArianaGrande pic.twitter.com/PkvTLSmYFA
— carolina 💛 (@carolinaa3_) November 30, 2018
OMG. THE THANK U NEXT VIDEO I CANT BELIEVE IT. THE MOVIE REFERENCES WERE SO SPOT ON. JINGLE BELL ROCK. THE CHEER OFF. BEND AND SNAP. wow ariana just gave us a masterpiece
— Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) November 30, 2018
i almost spit out my drink when kris jenner came on screen in ariana’s thank u, next videoo KRIS UR DOING AMAZING SWEETIE !!!!!
— erin gilfoy (@eringilfoy) November 30, 2018
Kris Jenner’s part has me dead ass dying. Thank u, next… BITCH😂 @KrisJenner #ThankUNextVideo 👑
— Nicholas Liddle (@NLiddle16) November 30, 2018
“Thank U, Next” was first introduced via Twitter. After Davidson joked about the couple’s broken engagement on Saturday Night Live on Nov. 2, Grande tweeted “Thank U, Next” and the empowerment anthem soon followed. We got a hint that the song would conjure up pop culture nostalgia when she performed it alongside co-producers Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx (who also were in the new video) to a First Wives Club theme on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Nov. 7.
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