donutgate
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A 2015 controversy in which American singer, songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande was seen on surveillance video in a shop licking donuts that were on display and saying “I hate Americans. I hate America. This is disgusting.”
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
A family friend says “Donutgate” won’t stop Grande’s rise to the pinnacle of music stardom.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “donutgate” mean?
A 2015 controversy in which American singer, songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande was seen on surveillance video in a shop licking donuts that were on display and saying “I hate Americans. I hate America. This is disgusting.”
Is “donutgate” formal or informal?
donutgate is generally slang.