Focker-in-Law Reunion: Ariana Grande Recalls First Meeting Ben Stiller
The singer describes her initial encounter with the director during a chaotic 2016 film scene and details their new collaboration in an upcoming comedy.
By Rafael Delgado ·
Ariana Grande and Ben Stiller reunited on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote their new film, Focker-in-Law. The appearance marked the singer's return to the public spotlight following a hiatus from her touring schedule. Stiller and Robert De Niro also joined the conversation to discuss the upcoming release.
The film, scheduled for a November 25 release, follows the Focker family as Greg and Pam's son, Henry, navigates a romantic relationship with Olivia Jones. The character, played by Grande, is described as a strong-willed woman who appears to be a mismatch for the son. The story centers on the family chaos that ensues from this union.
Fallon asked Grande about the circumstances of her first interaction with Stiller. Grande explained that their initial meeting occurred during the production of the 2016 comedy Zoolander 2. In that film, Stiller directed a scene involving a group he referred to as an eccentric romantic circle. Grande recalled that the scene included a hippo and actor Susan Sarandon.
Grande stated that the unusual setting created an immediate sense of comfort between the two. She noted that while the story sounds like a game of two truths and a lie, it reflects her actual experience. Stiller agreed, suggesting the intense nature of the scene forged an instant connection.
Their first scene together in Focker-in-Law involved a rehearsal for a moment where Grande's character performs the Heimlich maneuver on Stiller's character. Grande expected a standard script reading with director John Hamburg. Instead, the pair was taken directly to the stunts team.
The stunts crew instructed Stiller to bend over and told Grande to position herself behind him. Grande laughed while recounting how she accepted the physicality of the scene without hesitation. She mentioned telling her mother that she had spent several hours giving Stiller the Heimlich maneuver during the first day of work.
Grande's appearance on the late-night program followed a period where she stepped back from public-facing work. In August, her representatives informed The Hollywood Reporter that she was taking a much-deserved break to manage ongoing scrutiny regarding her health and body. Her Eternal Sunshine Tour concluded in September, leading to this period of reduced visibility.
