Did Sam and Cat get along in real life? Jennette McCurdy and Ariana Grande's personal equation explored

While Ariana Grande has established a successful career in pop music, the singer-songwriter first entered the entertainment industry as an actress. In 2010, Grande was cast to play Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon's show, Victorious. Meanwhile, Jennette McCurdy starred in another show on the channel, iCarly.

Grande and McCurdy were later cast in a spinoff series called Sam & Cat, which aired from 2013-2014. Having worked alongside each other as the stars of the show, Grande and McCurdy were expected to develop a working relationship.

However, the fact that Sam and Cat didn't get along in real life came to light in 2022. In her memoir published that year, Jennette McCurdy revealed how she felt "pissed" about how Ariana Grande was treated differently on the sets of the show as her music career started to take off, and would often be absent with McCurdy having to suffer the consequences.

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Jennette McCurdy mentioned sharing a close bond with Ariana Grande in 2013

Jennette McCurdy openly complimented her co-star, Ariana Grande, while talking to E! News in 2013. McCurdy praised her work ethic, saying:

"She’s extremely strong-willed and she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants if she really believes in something. I think that’s such an admirable quality to have and I look up to her for that."

She also revealed how Grande's work ethic had positively influenced her, further saying:

"And I think that’s something, working with her now for a year and a half, that hopefully I’ve adopted a bit of and I hope to get more of it as time goes on."

The actress also confessed how the 7 Rings singer and she had developed a close bond with each other and talked about aspects of each other's lives beyond work, saying:

"We keep each other on track, we don’t really talk much about work stuff, because I feel like we talk about that so much with other people that we like to keep it to family, and just personal stuff. It’s all completely personal, what we’ve done with our friends lately, where we’re going, what we’re getting into, clothes."

In 2015, long after the two stopped working together, McCurdy admitted to Entertainment Tonight about being in touch with Grande, confessing how she was about to finish a book that the we can't be friends singer had recommended to her.

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Jennette McCurdy opened up about being "pissed" at Ariana Grande years later in her memoir

While McCurdy might not have confessed to having any harsh feelings for Grande openly, the actress wrote all about it in the memoir she published in 2022, I'm Glad My Mom Died, which became a bestseller soon after its release.

In her memoir, the actress talked about how she and Ariana were not treated equally on the sets of Sam & Cat as soon as the singer's musical career began to take off.

She also mentioned how she had to turn down two feature movies while shooting for iCarly, because the team wouldn't write her off for a few episodes. For Ariana Grande, however, exceptions were made. Her memoir revealed:

"The week where I was told Ariana would not be here at all, and that they would write around her absence this episode by having her character be locked in a box. Are you. Kidding me. So I have to turn down movies while Ariana’s off whistle-toning at the Billboard Music Awards?"

Since the two actors had started at the same point, Jennette found it difficult not to compare her own career with that of Ariana Grande, which was a frustrating experience for her. The actress talked about it in her memoir, writing:

"Ariana is at the stage in her career where she’s popping up on every 30 Under 30 list that exists. And I’m at the stage in my career where my team is excited that I’m the new face of Rebecca Bonbon, a tween clothing line featuring a cat with her tongue sticking out. Sold exclusively at Walmart."

Despite starring as actors together, McCurdy didn't find profound success instantly as Grande did because of her music. The realization, coupled with Grande flaunting her success on the sets, was too much for the actress.

"And I frequently make the mistake of comparing my career to Ariana’s. I can’t help it. I’m constantly in the same environment as her, and she doesn’t exactly try to hide her successes. "

McCurdy further wrote:

"I’m pissed about it. And I’m pissed at her. Jealous of her."

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Since Ariana Grande never gave any public reaction to her mention in her co-star's memoir, it is still unknown how the singer-songwriter feels about it all.