An interaction between Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards has sparked mixed reactions on social media. The two stars were seen embracing and chatting on the red carpet, and footage of the moment quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter).

While many fans were thrilled to see the two together, others labeled the exchange as “forced” and “awkward.” The nine-second clip showed Selena, 32, and Ariana, 31, excitedly conversing before sharing a hug. However, immediately after the embrace, Ariana turned away, seemingly ignoring Selena, who continued speaking. Selena then performed a peculiar curtsy before attempting to walk away. Noticing Ariana’s back was to her, she began to leave, but Ariana turned back and reached for her hand.

Reactions poured in, with some users criticizing Ariana for her behavior. Comments included, “Ariana is so annoying for looking back while Selena was saying nice things to her. Who TF does that?” and “That looked awkward.” Others echoed sentiments about the interaction feeling fake, with one user stating, “Not [Ariana] ignoring Selena in five seconds.”

Despite the criticism, some fans expressed excitement about seeing two of their childhood favorites together again, highlighting the contrasting opinions surrounding the moment.