Singer Ariana Grande has drawn attention and concern from fans following the release of her new music video for "Petal." Released on Friday, the video features Grande in a "Grease"-inspired outfit, sparking a wave of social media commentary regarding her appearance.
Many viewers expressed worry about Grande's perceived thinness, with comments on social media platforms like X and YouTube noting that she appeared "extremely thin," "ill," or that her "bones are literally popping out." Some users voiced a desire for her well-being, with one YouTube commenter writing, "as an Ari fan, the song and video are absolutely incredible concepts and incredibly executed but honestly all I can think about is how I hope she’s okay because she literally looks ill."
However, a segment of fans defended Grande, urging others to refrain from commenting on her body and weight. "If y’all actually cared about her you wouldn’t be publicly making comments about her body," one X user posted. Another commenter stated, "Leave her body alone. Ariana doesn’t exist for your commentary... Body-shaming a woman for being thin is still body-shaming. Full stop." These defenders emphasized that Grande's focus should remain on her music and that her personal appearance is not a subject for public discussion.
This is not the first time Grande has addressed public commentary on her appearance. In a 2024 interview, she became emotional when discussing the pressure women face to maintain a perfect image. Grande described comments about weight, whether perceived as heavier or thinner, as "uncomfortable" and "horrible." She further elaborated that society has developed a "comfortability" in commenting on others' looks, appearance, and health, which she deemed "really dangerous."
In November, Grande reshared a clip from that interview, accompanying it with a message that read, "resharing this from last year ♡ as a loving reminder to all," acknowledging the difficulty of shielding oneself from such public scrutiny.