Entertainment
Milo Manheim on Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande’s Friendship (Exclusive)
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NEED TO KNOW
- Milo Manheim, 24, who stars in the off-Broadway show Little Shop of Horrors with Ariana Grande’s friend Liz Gillies, told PEOPLE it makes “such sense” that the pair are friends
- Manheim, who spoke to PEOPLE exclusively at a recent Disney event, calls the duo “such kind souls” and “such theater girlies”
- The actor met Grande when she came to see the production on April 26 and hung out with the cast backstage
Milo Manheim says it makes so much “sense” that Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies are such good friends after recently getting to know both performers.
Manheim, who stars alongside Gillies in the off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, spoke to PEOPLE exclusively at the Disney 2025 Upfronts in New York City. During the conversation, the actor explained that he met Grande when she came to the show in order to support Gillies, whom she’s been close to for years.
“They’re both such sweeties,” Manheim, 24, said. “I mean, I’ve spent so much time with Liz and she’s like family now at this point. We’ve been through so much together. I’ve learned so much from her, and the more I get to know her, the more incredible I think she is.”
“Ariana came to see the show,” he added, noting, “It makes such sense that they are friends. They’re both such kind souls, both such theater girlies. Like it was, it was really nice to see Ariana there supporting Liz, and I could see them just being like little girls again enjoying being in the theater.”
Gillies, 31, posted photos from Grande’s April 26 visit to the show, jokingly captioning the post, “THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE SHOP, MY DINGUS!! 😭♥️🪴.”
Grande, 31, attended Little Shop of Horrors with boyfriend Ethan Slater, and a source told PEOPLE that they arrived about an hour early “and hung out backstage with the cast.”
The source went on to describe the visit as “adorable,” adding, “They were both so friendly and warm with the cast, and so supportive of the production. Ariana gave everyone hugs and brought Liz a potted plant for the women’s dressing room.”
Grande and Gillie met as children starring in the Broadway production of 13. The pair were later cast on the popular Nickelodeon series Victorious, which ran from 2010 to 2013.
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The show, which followed a group of teens who attend a high school for the performing arts, was Grande’s first television role and served as the launching pad for her music career.
Nickleodeon Production/Schneider’S Bakery/Sony Music/Kobal/Shutterstock
The pair continued to remain close over the years, with Grande tapping the Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll alum to appear in her “Thank U, Next” video in 2019.
“We’re totally close. She’s like blood to me, she’s like my sister,” Gillies previously told PEOPLE of the in 2015. “So unless we have a massive falling out, nothing will be happening there. We lived together, I’ve known her since what feels like the beginning of time.”
Grande shared a heartfelt birthday tribute to Gillies on her Instagram Stories for her 30th birthday in 2023, writing, “Happy birthday to the most beautiful, brilliant, talented, funniest person I’ve ever met in my life @lizgillz,” over a candid selfie of the pair.
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“You have made my heart so unfathomably happy and whole these past 16 years!” she continued. “Absolutely everything and also, absolutely nothing has changed. I love you more than words can possibly express and I hope we can be best friends in every life.”
Little Shop of Horrors is playing at the Westside Theatre in N.Y.C.
Entertainment
‘Hunger Games’ actor arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, intent to kill

“Hunger Games” star Ethan Jamieson was arrested for allegedly assaulting three men with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.
The actor, who portrayed the District 4 male tribute in the 2012 movie, was taken into custody after allegedly attacking the men with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun in Raleigh, North Carolina, TMZ reported Tuesday.
The alleged victim’s names weren’t revealed and were instead listed as E.F., J.M., and K.W.
According to Jamieson’s arrest report, he was previously arrested for allegedly “resisting a public officer” while in Raleigh in March 2025, per Us Weekly.
He was sentenced for the offense on March 26, according to People.
Jamieson, 27, got his start in the limelight when he scored a guest role in “One Tree Hill” in 2009.
He then starred in the 2010 movie “The Rusty Bucket Kids: Lincoln, Journey to 16” as Ethan.
Jamieson’s last role was in a 2013 episode of “Justified” as Milo Truth.
The actor previously gushed over filming “The Hunger Games” alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson.
“I knew that the books were popular, but I didn’t know that the movie was going to be so big,” he told Lancaster Online when the movie was released in 2012.
However, Jamieson admitted that he didn’t want to be a full-time actor and wanted to be a “normal person.”
That same month, he recalled working on the Gary Ross-directed set, telling Clevver TV, “There are a lot of good things [about production], but pulling pranks on each other was pretty fun.”
Entertainment
Katy Perry under investigation by Australian cops after Ruby Rose’s sexual assault allegation

Katy Perry is being investigated by Australian officials over Ruby Rose’s bombshell sexual assault allegation.
“Melbourne Sexual Offenses and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives are investigating a historical sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010,” Acting Sergeant Paul Hogan of Victoria Police said in a statement Tuesday.
“Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s Central Business District.”
Earlier that same day, Rose wrote via Threads that she had “finalized all reports” about Perry, 41, allegedly “pull[ing] her underwear to the side and rubb[ing] her disgusting vagina on [the actress’] face” at the Spice Market nightclub nearly 20 years ago.
“This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved,” the 40-year-old noted. “It’s going to look like I am ignoring everything from supportive messages, to other people’s experiences, but I’m not.”
The “Orange Is the New Black” alum added, “This is a standard request from the police and in many ways, quite the relief.”
Rose explained that she plans to “start the healing process” and “move forward.”
Perry’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
After Rose went viral for accusing the pop star of sexual assault over the weekend, Perry’s rep dubbed the allegations “categorically false” and “reckless lies.”
On Monday, the songwriter’s spokesperson said, “Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”
Perry shared a powerful message via Instagram Stories the following day, sharing her 2013 song “Grace of God.”
The lyrics, notably, center around the ability “to rise above” during hard times — and feature a line about how “the truth will set you free.”
Rose claimed on Sunday to have “photos” and “multiple” witnesses to back up her accusation.
The “Batwoman” star, who said she “threw up” on Perry after the alleged incident, added, “I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it.”
“Later [Perry] agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret,” she continued.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
Entertainment
Dave Portnoy claims Dianna Russini’s resignation letter makes ‘zero sense’

Dave Portnoy says Dianna Russini’s resignation from the Athletic makes “zero sense” after the sports journalist’s letter announcing her exit was publicized.
“If we’re just being honest this explanation really makes zero sense. I don’t think anybody should lose their job over alleged canoodling but this statement makes it seem like there was definitely canoodling happening,” the Barstool Sports founder wrote via X Tuesday.
“An innocent canoodler would prob welcome a thorough investigation to prove their innocence and exonerate themselves right? This screams guilty canoodler to me.”
Russini’s resignation letter, addressed to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg and sent Tuesday afternoon, comes days after Page Six published photos of her at a luxury hotel with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
Portnoy first weighed in on the bombshell snaps on Monday, speculating that “something beyond a friendship was happening” between Russini and Vrabel — who are both married to other people.
“They’re both married with kids. So, in that respect, very sad story,” Portnoy, 49, said during his “Wake Up Barstool” sports talk show, claiming that it is nothing but a “personal issue” for the NFL coach.
For Russini, Portnoy admitted it got “dicey” because “you cannot cross the line with your sources.”
He still argued that neither party should lose their jobs over the scandal.
“So maybe she crossed a work line, which will cause her to be terminated. Now she’s not dealing with nuclear codes. She’s not dealing with politicians. It’s football,” he explained.
Russini had been at the Athletic since 2023 and had the title of Senior NFL Insider.
In her resignation letter, the journalist said her decision to resign is because “commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” and she wants to stop more damage surrounding the situation.
After her bombshell statement, Ginsberg confirmed Russini’s resignation in a memo to the Athletic staff, noting that “additional information emerged” and “new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.”
Last week, Page Six exclusively obtained photos of Russini and Vrabel holding hands and hugging at the Ambiente in Sedona on March 28.
An eyewitness us that the pair had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant around 10:30 a.m. on March 28 before spending a leisurely hour or so together at the pool and lounging side-by-side in a hot tub.
After the photos surfaced, the Athletic, which the New York Times obtained in 2022, sidelined Russini and launched an investigation into the matter.
Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, addressed the photos in statements to Page Six.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response,” Vrabel told us.
Russini also told us, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
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