Ariana Grande has had enough of body comments, but 'scrutiny' will linger

Ariana Grande is stepping back from the public eye following "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" regarding her body, a spokesperson for the pop star and actress announced. This decision comes three years after Grande first pleaded with the public to refrain from commenting on her physique.

In a TikTok video from 2023, Grande addressed remarks about her weight and figure, emphasizing that "many different ways to look healthy and beautiful" exist. Despite this, social media speculation about her body and health has persisted.

The statement from Grande's representative indicated that she "will be taking a step back from visibility" after her current tour concludes. "She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily," the statement affirmed, "and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny."

Grande's announcement coincides with the release of her eighth studio album, "Petal," and the graphic music video for its title track, which premiered on Friday. The "Petal" video depicts Grande as a starlet auditioning for talent scouts, embodying various pop star personas, none of which are deemed satisfactory. The male scouts initially suggest it "couldn't hurt" to lose weight, among other criticisms, before ultimately telling her final persona that they miss "the way you used to be." The video culminates with Grande murdering them all with a chainsaw.

Grande has described the album's origin as "an unfiltered rage." However, it is her appearance that has garnered the most attention, with many on social media expressing what they claim is genuine concern. Comments and screenshots flooded social media over the weekend.

The top comment on the "Petal" YouTube video stated, "It's not about wanting the old Ariana back. It's about wanting her to be healthy." Another fan on X wrote that Grande "has become so thin that people are genuinely concerned."

Conversely, Grande's loyal fanbase rallied in support, with #Weloveyouariana trending on social media. Some criticized those focusing on her body, with one user writing, "No-one has the right to comment on anyone else's body or appearance."

Music journalist Sophie Williams told BBC Radio 5 Live that the "constant commentary around her has really, really elevated over the weekend as she's been promoting new music." Williams suggested that this heightened scrutiny likely contributed to Grande's decision to withdraw from public life.

Grande is scheduled to continue her Eternal Sunshine Tour in Chicago this week, followed by 10 dates at London's O2 arena, where the tour will conclude on September 1. Her "step back" means she will no longer star opposite her "Wicked" co-star Jonathan Bailey in Stephen Sondheim's stage musical "Sunday in the Park with George" at London's Barbican in 2027.

Having spent more than 15 years—half her life—in the spotlight, Grande has previously spoken about the challenges of public scrutiny. During the press tour for the first "Wicked" film in 2024, she told an interviewer, "I've been doing this in front of the public and been a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17, so I have heard it all." She added, "I've heard every version of it, of what's wrong with me. And then you fix it, and then it's wrong for different reasons. But that's everything from – even just the simplest thing – your appearance, you know? It's hard to protect yourself from that noise."

Grande, who began singing at age eight, rose to fame as a teenage actress in Nickelodeon's "Victorious" and its spin-off, "Sam & Cat." Since her debut single in 2011, she has achieved 10 US number one hits and received 20 Grammy Award nominations, winning three. She also earned an Oscar nomination in 2025 for her role as Glinda in "Wicked."

Her career has also been marked by difficult experiences. In 2017, a suicide bomb attack outside her concert at Manchester Arena killed 22 people. The following year, she disclosed that she was dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), expressing a desire "not to be afraid" but acknowledging, "The truth is, it's scary. It's scary going anywhere. You look at places differently." After the death of her ex-boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, in 2018, she spoke about her "all-consuming" grief.

Grande's relationships and break-ups, including those with comedian Pete Davidson, estate agent Dalton Gomez, her married "Wicked" co-star Ethan Slater, and former backing dancer Ricky Alvarez, have frequently made headlines. In a new song, "Oh Well," she tells an unnamed ex or exes to "all go to hell."

She has also openly discussed her struggles with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), advocating for mandatory therapy for child stars. This summer, Grande launched the Brighter Days Ahead Foundation, a mental health initiative supporting groups including the crew and performers on her current tour.

Williams noted, "A lot of people perhaps forget that she's been famous for nearly 15 years, and she has a unique story in that she sadly lived out a lot of trauma in the public eye." She concluded, "As fans and those working in music, all that we can do is wish her well."

In her 2023 video appeal, Grande urged people to reconsider commenting on others' appearance and well-being, even if their intentions were good. "I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies, no matter what," she stated. She also revealed that the period when fans perceived her as healthiest was, in fact, a time when she was on antidepressants, drinking, and eating poorly, making it "the unhealthiest version of my body."

"Healthy can look different," she emphasized. "You never know what someone is going through, so even if you are coming from a loving place and a caring place, that person probably is working on it or has a support system that they are working on it with."