Q Scores reveal Ariana’s donut-licking America-hating incident did in a few weeks what others took years to accomplish

Aug 15, 2015 06:34 GMT  ·  By
The donut-licking incident is proving very costly to Ariana Grande, who has experienced a sharp drop in popularity
   The donut-licking incident is proving very costly to Ariana Grande, who has experienced a sharp drop in popularity

America has turned against Ariana Grande after she was caught on surveillance camera licking donuts on display in a shop and saying at the same time that she hated America and Americans. Well, the feeling is mutual now: according to Q Scores obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, she’s the second most hated celebrity in the country right now.

Bill Cosby is ahead of her, and it “only” took over 30 women coming forward to claim he had drugged and raped them to make him fall from grace.

America hates Ariana Grande and that’s a fact

Q Scores are popularity polls on anything from food brands to reality shows and celebrities. They are figures that determine popularity or lack thereof, and are a reliable indicator for companies when it comes to deciding whether to discontinue a product or not.

THR looked at Q Scores from the past 2 years (2013-2015) and compiled a list of America’s most hated celebrities right now. The figures also reveal that Ariana’s donut-licking America-hating incident accomplished to do what others took years in terms of damaging her reputation.

She experienced a 26-point increase in negative Q Score (meaning 26% of polled adults voted for her negatively) after the video (below) of her in the donut shop was published online.

The fact that she issued 2 separate apologies after the fact, one for licking the donuts and one for saying she “hated” her country and the people in it, probably didn’t help in shifting negative perceptions of her.  

Bill Cosby’s rape scandal is the worst though

As bad as Ariana has had it in the past year, it’s nothing compared to Cosby. In recent months, over 30 women have come to claim he drugged and raped them at some point in their life, after luring them in secluded locations under the pretense of wanting to help out with their career.

The statute of limitations on the alleged crimes has long expired, so Cosby has not been prosecuted in a court of law. There is no statute of limitations for such things in the court of public opinion, though, so his negative Q Score has increased by 43 points.

According to Q Scores Executive VP Henry Schafer, this is the steepest fall from grace an American celebrity has ever experienced. “I don't ever recall seeing an increase [in negative Q Score] like that. It's the biggest drop I've ever seen. A complete reversal,” he tells THR.

Other celebrities America hates include Dr. Oz, NeNe Leakes, Paula Deen, Adrian Peterson, Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus. Americans also hate Kim Kardashian, but in her case, that’s not a bad think, Schafer explains: she actually thrives on the kind of love-to-hate relationship she’s forged with the public.