Ariana Grande will not be charged for donut-licking incident

A screen grab of Ariana Grande's Youtube apology video for her "donut fiasco". Youtube Screenshot/ file

Singer-actress Ariana Grande will not face charges for allegedly licking donuts at a shop outside Los Angeles on July 4. 

A representative for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department told Us Weekly on Tuesday, July 14, that the owner of Wolfee Donuts chose not to press charges against the pop star. 

"The owner of Wolfee Donuts declined to press charges against Miss Grande," said the Sheriff's Department to the magazine. "This incident was documented to assist the department of environmental health only." 

On July 4, Grande, together with her backup dancer and rumored boyfriend Ricky Alvarez and a group of friends, was caught on camera in the donut shop located in Lake Elsinor, California. In the video, the "Problem" singer was seen licking a few donuts that were on display and was heard saying, "I hate Americans. I hate America!" The footage was obtained by TMZ. 

Wolfee Donuts owner Joe Marin told Us Weekly that Grande was being "rude" during her visit to his establishment. He said that the singer demanded to have the freshly baked donuts, so his employee had to leave the counter to get them from the back of the shop. Upon returning with the new donuts, Grande sent the employee back to get some more. 

Grande made two public apologies for the donut scandal, the first in a written statement posted on her social media accounts, and the second apology was in the form of a YouTube video, wherein she said she was sorry for "behaving poorly" and seeing what she did on video was a "rude awakening" for her. 

While Grande was not punished, Wolfee Donuts was downgraded from an A to B grade on Monday for leaving the donuts on the counter, making it easy for the pastries to be contaminated. The donut shop has since regained its A grade health rating. 

Meanwhile, the singer's fans are showing their support for her, and they appear to have forgiven her for the incident. Nicknamed "Arianators," her fans have started posting selfies on social media in which they appear to be licking real or photoshopped donuts.  

News
'Being Church in a time of conflict' - Church of England confronts global threats
'Being Church in a time of conflict' - Church of England confronts global threats

Members of the Church of England’s General Synod arrived in York yesterday for five days of deliberation and discussion.  

What does true freedom look like?
What does true freedom look like?

In today’s world, “freedom” is often defined as the ability to act, speak, or think however we want. But Scripture offers a radically different, and far deeper, understanding of freedom.

NHS urged to engage meaningfully with faith groups
NHS urged to engage meaningfully with faith groups

Engagement should be more than "tokenistic", says FaithAction.

Community-led school in South Sudan brings 'spring of hope' during humanitarian crisis
Community-led school in South Sudan brings 'spring of hope' during humanitarian crisis

Fourteen years after gaining independence, a community-driven initiative is igniting hope for a better future through education in South Sudan.