Ariana Grande wades in to row after Piers Morgan slams Little Mix photo

Ariana Grande and Piers Morgan have become embroiled in a Twitter spat over the TV presenter’s recent comments about Little Mix and Ellen DeGeneres.

The Good Morning Britain host, 53, sparked controversy when he criticised a nude image of the girl group which was intended to champion body positivity, claiming they had swiped the idea for the shoot from US band Dixie Chicks and were “using sex to sell records”.

He also had a pop at DeGeneres’s chat show, tweeting: “Ellen drooling today over famous men’s bodies on #InternationalMensDay2018. Yet I’ve been abused all day for complimenting @hollywills on her legs. The hypocrisy of modern feminism laid bare.”

On Wednesday, US singer Grande’s mother Joan took aim at Morgan, asking: “Honestly what is wrong with you @piersmorgan? Didn’t your mother ever teach you, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say it! You came for @TheEllenShow yesterday which was disgraceful, she is an angel. @LittleMix today, did you ever hear of paying homage? And..well never mind.”

He replied: “Hi Joan, my mother taught me to speak my mind & never be afraid to express honestly held opinion. Ellen’s a hypocrite – and as for Little Mix, I’d just prefer they use their talent to sell records rather than their nudity. As your own daughter does…!”

Grande, 25, then chimed in herself, tweeting: “Ellen is an incredible & kind human being.. I use my talent AND my sexuality all the time because i choose to. women can be sexual AND talented. naked and dignified. it’s OUR choice.

“& we will keep fighting til people understand.

“i say this w all due respect but thank u, next.”

The last line of the tweet made reference to Grande’s latest single titled Thank U, Next.

Morgan snapped back: “Hi Ariana! How lovely to hear from you so soon after your mother. Of course, women can do what they like – but if they/you use nudity to sell records to impressionable young female fans, I’ll continue to call them/you out on it. All due respect, but thank YOU. Next…”

Grande retorted: “Also @piersmorgan, i look forward to the day you realize there are other ways to go about making yourself relevant than to criticize young, beautiful, successful women for everything they do. i think that’ll be a beautiful thing for you and your career or what’s left of it.”

Saying his career was “doing just fine thanks”, Morgan said he criticised and praised everyone – “male, female, gender-fluid”.

Grande, who also sent her support to Little Mix, also raised an old image of Morgan advertising Burger King almost naked, asking: “When u do it it’s ok tho right?

“Is that your screensaver?” the British star replied.

Morgan also invited Grande to go on Good Morning Britain to “settle this like mano-to-womano”.

“We can bring our mothers too, if you like,” he added.