Fact Check: Was Ariana Grande diagnosed with cancer while filming 'Wicked' amid rumors about her weight?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Leave it to TikTok to spark an avalanche of rumors. This time the target was none other than pop sensation Ariana Grande.

Rumor has it that she was diagnosed with cancer — specifically lung cancer — while filming the much-anticipated movie adaptation of the Broadway hit 'Wicked'.

But let’s slow down—there’s zero evidence backing this claim.

The TikTok theory on Ariana Grande that lit the fuse

It all started on November 22 when a TikTok post boldly claimed, “Ariana reportedly learned about her lung cancer diagnosis halfway through filming Wicked.”

The post offered no receipts—no legit sources, no statements, just pure speculation. From there, the rumor was amplified by fans dissecting Grande’s noticeably slimmer figure during filming and subsequent appearances.

For months, discussions about her health had already been making the rounds on platforms like Reddit. Fans voiced concerns over her weight loss, but no one was talking about cancer—until TikTokers got involved with baseless theories.

Ariana herself has stayed quiet on the cancer rumors, offering neither confirmation nor denial. Instead, what we do have is an interview she gave to The New York Times earlier this month. Alongside her 'Wicked' co-star Cynthia Erivo, Grande opened up about challenges during filming—like contracting Covid-19.

Erivo revealed, “There was one time when I got Covid, there was another time when she got Covid.”

Grande chimed in, joking about recovering while prepping for her performance of 'Popular': “I came to set with a mask on my final days of recovery to learn the hallway finale, and no one liked this joke but I loved it so I’ll tell it: We were in the dorm room together and I sang in her ear, ‘Positive, you’re going to be positive!’ But I wasn’t positive anymore, don’t worry! I took the test.”

Erivo chimed in, "I got Covid the week before I shot 'Defying Gravity'. It was literally like, 'Sit down, Cynthia, not yet'."

Ariana’s message on speculation about her health

This is not the first time Ariana has dealt with chatter about her health.

Last year, she addressed fans in an emotional video after similar concerns about her appearance. In it, she warned against making assumptions based on looks alone and candidly admitted that comparisons to her past body image weren’t fair.

“This is the unhealthiest version of [my] body,” she admitted to fans.

That said, it is worth noting that Ariana has quite a track record of supporting cancer awareness initiatives — which some fans believe could be a reason for the speculation.

She performed at the 2014 Stand Up to Cancer telecast to help raise funds for cancer research. She was also scheduled to appear at a 2018 event for the nonprofit F*** Cancer.

Unfortunately, she withdrew from the latter after the tragic death of her ex Mac Miller.

Having said that, while her advocacy is proof of her commitment to the cause, it has no connection to the TikTok rumors.

Fact Check: Unfounded

It’s no secret that 'Wicked'—directed by Jon M Chu and starring Ariana Grande as Glinda—has kept the singer constantly in the public eye.

Both Grande and Cynthia Erivo faced criticism about their weight loss during production, with tabloids like Daily Mail and Hello! fueling the chatter.

Despite the headlines, none of these outlets provided evidence tying Grande’s appearance to any health condition, let alone cancer.

The first of a two-part movie adaptation of the beloved musical 'Wicked' began filming in late 2022, and it’s been a whirlwind of speculation and public scrutiny ever since.

So, was Ariana Grande diagnosed with cancer during 'Wicked' filming? Not likely. There’s no credible evidence to back up the claim, Snopes reported.