Ariana Grande, who said she 'hates America,' replaced for MLB All-Star concert

We're used to stars getting replaced in the lead-up to the MLB All-Star game, but this is something different entirely: Pop singer Ariana Grande, embattled in controversy this week, has been replaced for this Saturday's pre-All-Star concert.

Demi Lovato, another young pop singer, will instead headline the concert, which is one of many events in Cincinnati that lead up to Tuesday's Midsummer Classic. Most baseball fans likely wouldn't know the difference between Grande and Lovato anyway, but maybe that's changed now Grande's been in the news this week. And not for a good reason.

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Grande was caught on camera saying "I hate Americans, I hate America" at a SoCal donut shop on Saturday, which just happened to the Fourth of July. The security camera footage, obtained by TMZ, shows Grande and her boyfriend licking donuts, because that's apparently how 22-year-old pop stars entertain themselves. Then when a donut shop employee comes out with a huge tray of donuts, Grande utters her anti-America line, which we later learned was meant in reference to Americans not eating healthy. Grande — who was born and raised in Florida — has caught quite the backlash for this, as you might expect.

In announcing that Grande had been replaced for the concert, MLB said in a press release it was "as a result of Grande’s recent health issues." The Stew asked an MLB rep if the "I hate America" news had anything to do with the change. We were told: "It has to do with Ariana's health reasons as the release states."

As for those health issues, Grande had her wisdom teeth removed Monday and proved on Twitter that she still has a way with words:

Grande's reps also issued a statement Wednesday about her "I hate America" outburst, saying it was taken out of the context and she sometimes hates the way Americans consume things, but that she's extremely proud to be an American. Of course, she's the one who went to a donut shop, but we digress.

Here's the statement from Grande's camp:

Here's hoping Demi Lovato takes the stage Saturday with a box full of donuts.

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz