Long before Ariana Grande became a Grammy-award winner, the “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” singer was just your typical young girl — who, we now know thanks to a recently unearthed article, happened to be a massive hockey fan (and bafflingly, was hit by two pucks by the age of 5).
In a 1998 South Florida Sun Sentinel article that’s now going viral — after being shared by hockey writer Mike Commito over the weekend — a 5-year-old girl is pictured with a wide smile and a red hockey jersey, waving at the crowd as she sits on top of a Zamboni at a Florida Panthers game. The headline? “Boca kid gets a puck and ice,” with the subheader, “5-year-old fine after being struck 2nd time.” And the kid in question? Why, none other than Ariana Grande-Butera (the singer’s full name).
I just saw a picture of riding the Zamboni game in 1998, but the real story is that, by the age of 5, she had already been struck by two pucks at NHL games. She was actually the first person to be hit by a puck in the Panthers' new arena
Mike Commito (@mikecommito) February 9, 2019
On that Friday night back in 1998, as the future Grammy-award nominee’s mother recounted a game back in January when her daughter was hit in the wrist with a hockey puck, it happened again. Last time, it was her right wrist. This time, her left. “What are the odds of this happening,” wondered dad, graphic designer Ed Grande-Butera, visibly shaken.
if i’m honest ..... this is still exactly what i look like without lashes and my pony ..... anyone who knows me knows me knows ..... like .... i’m twenty five. i was five here. the only difference now is that hand now says bbq grill finger.
Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) February 10, 2019