Carrie Bickmore became emotional on her radio show on Monday as she discussed public concerns surrounding singer Ariana Grande's recent appearance. The American pop star, 33, has faced intense scrutiny following the release of her music video "Petal," which has sparked online debate about her weight loss.
Bickmore, 45, spoke on the "Carrie & Tommy" show about having to engage in a difficult conversation with her own daughters, who are fans of Grande. "The first thing I thought when I saw the clip of Ariana... was, 'Oh, my God, I hope she's okay.' She looked so unwell and so frail in this clip, that I then didn't want to show my daughters," Bickmore stated.
She expressed the challenge of navigating how to address Grande's appearance with her children. "I didn't know what I was meant to say to my girls. I didn't know whether I was meant to say, 'I don't want you to ever look like that. She doesn't look well.' Or [was I] meant to ask them, 'How do you think she looks?'" Bickmore recounted. She added that she wants her daughters to focus on Grande's talent and work ethic rather than her physical appearance.
Bickmore noted the societal pressure to be kind and avoid commenting on others' bodies, but also highlighted the conflict of seeing a public figure share a video of themselves and then feeling unable to have thoughts or feelings about it. "But all I could see was that person has put a video out into the world of themselves but yet we're not meant to have thoughts and feelings about that video," she said.
A listener on the show suggested that a parent's primary responsibility is to their children, and Bickmore agreed that while commenting on bodies online is inappropriate, it should not prevent open and honest conversations within the home.
The music video for "Petal" features a narrative where a character named Pepper undergoes significant changes in response to criticism, eventually revealing herself to be a movie star. The video has been interpreted as a commentary on Grande's own experiences with fame and public scrutiny.
Grande recently announced she would be taking a break from public-facing work after her "Eternal Sunshine" tour concludes in London on September 1, citing "endless, ongoing public scrutiny." Her representative told PEOPLE that she intends to finish the tour on a high note, feeling healthy and happy, before taking a break.
Grande has also withdrawn from her planned West End role in "Sunday in the Park with George." Her spokesman indicated that the tour has been a positive experience for her, and she looks forward to concluding it before stepping back from public duties.
For those needing support with eating disorders, The Butterfly Foundation can be reached at 1800 33 4673. In emergencies, contact 000.