Pop superstar and actress Ariana Grande has made a heartfelt public plea, urging an end to the relentless body-shaming comments that have plagued her for years. The 32-year-old singer, currently starring in the cinematic adaptation of Wicked, shared an emotional interview from last December on her Instagram Stories as a gentle reminder for critics to choose kindness.
A Tearful Plea for Compassion
On November 29, Grande reshared the poignant clip from the web series Oui Oui Baguette, writing, "Resharing this from last year as a loving reminder to all." In the original interview, a visibly emotional Grande, while holding co-star Cynthia Erivo's hand, confessed that constant commentary on her appearance has been a damaging fixture in her life since she was a teenager.
"In today's society, there is a comfortability that we shouldn't have at all - commenting on others' looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes, or health or how they present themselves ... that I think is really dangerous," she stated. Grande described herself as a "specimen in a petri-dish" since the age of 16 or 17, having heard "every version of it, of what's wrong with me." She expressed the impossible position public figures are put in, noting that when you "fix" one criticised aspect, another immediately becomes "wrong for different reasons."
Fans Voice Concern and a History of Clapping Back
The body-shaming comments have intensified since Grande began promoting Wicked last year. Her willowy appearance at the SAG Awards earlier this year sparked a wave of concern on social media platform X, with fans pleading for her loved ones to intervene. One user wrote, "For real tho. Is Ariana Grande ok? She so thin and talks so slow now. Im actually worried," while another commented on her being "too skinny."
This is not the first time Grande has addressed public scrutiny over her body. Back in 2023, she responded on TikTok after people compared her current figure to her younger self. She revealed that the body people considered "healthy" was actually from the "unhealthiest version" of her life, a period when she was on antidepressants, drinking, and eating poorly.
A Terrifying Ordeal and a Support System
Grande's call for kindness comes in the wake of a terrifying ambush by a fan at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good on November 13. A man identified as notorious Australian red carpet crasher Johnson Wen, known online as Pyjama Man, lunged at Grande, putting his arm around her. Her co-star and friend, Cynthia Erivo, bravely stepped in front of her to block the man before security intervened. Grande was left visibly shaken and was comforted by Erivo. Wen has since been charged with public nuisance.
Throughout these challenges, Grande has emphasised the importance of her support network. In her emotional interview, she said, "I'm really lucky to have the support system that I have, and to know and trust that I'm beautiful." Her message remains a powerful one: that public commentary on a person's body and health is not just unkind, but genuinely dangerous.
