Ariana Grande shares Nonna’s priceless response to her brother, Frankie, coming out

Ariana Grande has shared a heartwarming and humorous story about her late grandmother’s reaction when her brother, Frankie Grande, came out as gay.

Speaking on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the 32-year-old pop star, and lead actor in Wicked, recalled her favourite memory of Marjorie “Nonna” Grande, who passed away peacefully at home in June aged 99. Ariana described the moment as both loving and comical, highlighting her Nonna’s candid approach.

“She was so accepting and celebratory,” Ariana explained, “but she was just trying to figure it out because Frankie had dated women before.” In her best impression of Nonna’s New York Italian accent, Ariana recounted the exchange:
“Frankie, have you seen a pair of breasts?”
When Frankie replied that he had, Nonna shot back:
“Didn’t do anything for you?”
After his firm “No”, she concluded matter-of-factly:
“Well, you’re gay.”

Ariana laughed as she told listeners that her grandmother wasn’t being judgmental - she simply wanted to understand. “It was just so funny,” she said, adding that Nonna’s reaction perfectly captured her blend of honesty and humour.

The story has since gone viral, with fans praising the Grande family’s openness and Nonna’s iconic wit. Ariana also used the podcast to reflect on her grandmother’s influence, calling her “the funniest, most loving person” and sharing that this memory remains one of her most cherished.