Frankie June didn't file a lawsuit, name names or demand credit. When thousands of fans flooded her comments insisting Ariana Grande's 'Petal' video was a shot-for-shot lift of her 2016 short 'Hollywood', June filmed a TikTok stating, 'Hollywood is toxic, and perhaps that's the real story here.'
Her response has split opinion. Some are calling it a masterful PR move that turns strangers into instant fans. Others reckon it's simply what an indie artist does when the alternative is taking on a fandom with infinitely more resources.
Did Ariana Grande's Petal Copy Frankie June's Hollywood?
Fans didn't just take June's word for it. They laid the two videos side by side, and the similarities are hard to ignore.
In both videos, a hopeful actor turns up to an audition, gets treated appallingly by a Hollywood executive, joins a queue of identically dressed women, and eventually snaps and takes bloody revenge on her tormentors. The visual overlaps, from a cracked Walk of Fame star to a retro colour palette to synchronised choreography among the waiting women, were close enough that June's fans did the digging for her.
When considered separately, each element might seem coincidental. However, taken together, eight years after June first uploaded 'Hollywood' to YouTube, they explain why this resurfaced footage went viral instead of disappearing into obscurity.
@frankieofthevalley I enjoyed watching your video @arianagrande - if you wanna collab, my DM’s are open! 😜Hollywood cast & crew, I’ll always be proud of what we made on $700 and a dream 💙 #arianagrande #petal #petalarianagrande #fyp #indiemusic
♬ original sound - frankie june
The 'Mood Board' Loophole
'Petal' was directed by Christian Breslauer, a frequent collaborator of Grande known for his glossy, high-concept visuals, and was produced by London Alley. Major pop productions rarely start from a blank page. Instead, they create mood boards from content circulating online, often incorporating the work of smaller creators. This creates a loophole that allows a superstar to claim total ignorance while her team absorbs someone else's idea.
Neither Grande nor Breslauer has addressed the comparisons to June's video directly. Grande's only public comment since release has been a note of pride in the finished product, thanking her collaborators for helping bring the story to life.
Ariana Grande Plagiarism Claims: From '7 Rings' to 'Petal'
This isn't unfamiliar territory for Grande's camp. Back in 2020, hip hop artist Josh Stone sued Grande and several songwriters over '7 Rings', alleging it copied his earlier track.
Rappers Soulja Boy and 2 Chainz publicly accused her of taking inspiration from their work around the same time. Whether or not Grande was directly involved, the pattern of her releases consistently resembling uncredited sources persists.
Homage or Theft? Why Hollywood Keeps 'Borrowing' From Indie Directors
Defenders point to 'Carrie', 'The Substance' and decades of 'audition gone wrong' tropes as proof of a shared cinematic lineage. But there's a difference between drawing on a genre's DNA and echoing another artist's specific shot choices, colour palette and staging almost beat for beat.
Arianators are known for being one of the most fiercely loyal and quickly mobilising fanbases in the music industry. Indie artists who publicly challenge larger acts often face intense harassment within hours, regardless of the legitimacy of their claims. June's calm demeanour wasn't just a reflection of her personality but a means of self-preservation.
@frankieofthevalley burn up my dreams with me at my link in bio 🔥 Hollywood (2016) by Frankie June - music video out now! #musicvideo #indiemusic #indieartist #hollywood #indiemusicvideo
♬ original sound - frankie june
Does taking the high road actually protect artists like Frankie June, or does it just make it easier for the industry machine to keep getting away with it?
