Alt-right trolls are targeting Ariana Grande after terror attack
Ariana Grande is being targeted by so called alt-right and pro-Trump trolls — for previous liberal statements she made — with weaponized memes, out-of-context quotes and hate comments.
SEE ALSO: No, this is not a photo of Ariana Grande after the Manchester attack
Grande, who said said she was "broken" following the bomb attack in Manchester that killed 22 people, was a strong Hillary Clinton supporter during the US presidential election and joined the Women's March in January.
The pro-Trump Facebook page "Patriots for America USA" published a meme with an image of Grande and an "anti-American" quote attributed to her.
In the post, the group says: "Pro refugee, Muslim sympathizer, anti-Trump, anti-American, Women's March organizer and raging liberal is suddenly wishing she was back in the safety of the America she hates so much."
Grande's words were often used by the alt-right to accuse her of anti-Americanism. In 2015, the pop star was caught on camera while reacting to a new tray of doughnuts in a shop. She jokingly said "I hate America, I hate Americans" to a friend.
Grande later apologised, explaining she was simply “upset by how freely we as Americans eat and consume things” and affirming she was “extremely proud to be an American.”
But the latest trolling didn't stop with the Patriots page. The same meme featured in the biggest pro-Trump sub-Reddit, The_Donald:
The meme also featured on many alt-right Twitter accounts, including conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich, The Rebel TV's Jack Posobiec, Former KKK leader David Duke, and Paul Joseph Watson:
Ariana pic.twitter.com/gBNdIKLVM4
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) May 23, 2017
No Ariana, what's "utterly terrifying" is your fans being blown up by a terrorist. #ManchesterBombing pic.twitter.com/p4VyQCcy5d
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) May 23, 2017
"I Hate Americans. I Hate America." - Ariana Grande pic.twitter.com/N8bvydHgbj
— David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) May 23, 2017
Talk-radio host and 2008 Libertarian vice presidential nominee Wayne Allyn Root said:
Sad terror happened at her concert...BUT perhaps yesterday changed liberal ignorance of Grande? Wake up? I can only hope. America is hero.
— Wayne Allyn Root (@WayneRoot) May 23, 2017
The meme and other posts slamming Ariana Grande were also included in 4Chan’s right-wing /pol/.
One anonymous user said: "She had it coming and hopefully she's been culturally enriched."
The internet is a brutal place.