Ariana Grande shares 'loving reminder' to fans amid renewed body scrutiny: 'I think it’s dangerous'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ariana Grande issued a renewed reminder to her followers this weekend to think twice before making remarks on someone's appearance. On Saturday, November 30, the 32-year-old singer reposted a 2024 interview clip to her Instagram stories, using the moment to speak out about the "dangerous" impact of body-shaping on people following the 'Wicked: For Good' press tour.

Sharing the video she wrote, "Re-sharing this from last year as a loving reminder to all", which shows her clearly getting visibly emotional while discussing years of public scrutiny. 

Body-shaming and growing up under public scrutiny 

In the clip, Grande reflects on growing up in the spotlight and the toll unsolicited comments took on her. "I've been kind of doing this in front of the public and kind of been a specimen in a petri dish really since I was 16 or 17, so I have heard it all," she said. 

She added that criticism followed no matter how she looked, "I've heard every vision 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." 

Grande expressed the difficulty of navigating this scrutiny when you're young and still forming your identity. "It's hard to protect yourself from that noise," she said, adding that intrusive personal comments can come from anywhere, "Even if you go to thanksgiving dinner and someone's granny says, 'Oh my god, you look skinnier! What happenend?' or you look heavier, What happened?" 

"I think in today's society we have a comfortability that we shouldn't have at all," she continued, "Commenting on others' looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scene or health or how they present themselves." 

Ariana Grande's ongoing push for mindfulness in conversations about appearance 

This isn't the first time Grande has opened up about the effects of body-shaming. In 2023, she addressed similar criticism in a heartfelt video, explaining the real story behind the past photos of her that fans frequently compare her to. 

"The body you have been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body," she said. "I was on antidepressants and drinking on them and eating properly." 

She added that she was "at her lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my healthiest, but that in fact was not my healthiest."

"I know I shouldn't have to explain that, but I do feel some sort of openness and vulnerability here, might bring some good from it," she said.