Columnist Liz Jones has voiced concerns about Ariana Grande's physical appearance, drawing parallels to her own experiences with an eating disorder. In a piece for YOU Magazine, Jones expressed a hope that Grande is receiving help, noting that the singer "clearly looks frail and unwell."
Jones, who identifies as a recovering anorexic, stated that while she is not diagnosing Grande, she understands the effects of serious illness. She noted that a "big but" – referring to the singer's empire built on revenue from young girls – necessitates discussion about a woman's body when it appears to be in distress. Grande is reportedly stepping back from her career after her current tour concludes.
Reflecting on her own past, Jones described hiding her body with baggy clothes as a teenager and lying to doctors. She recalled writing about Amy Winehouse shortly before her death, questioning why no one intervened in her struggles with alcoholism and bulimia. Jones acknowledged that such commentary can be misconstrued, citing criticism from a friend of Winehouse's who felt the press contributed to the singer's decline.
Jones also touched upon the increasing taboo surrounding discussions of female addiction, whether to cosmetic procedures, diets, or unsuitable relationships. She recounted an instance where a body-positive activist criticized her for attempting to understand morbid obesity by wearing a fat suit for a previous article.
The columnist recounted an incident in 1999 when she described supermodel Gisele Bündchen as having the "fragility of a sparrow," which led to backlash from Bündchen's agent and other magazine editors. Jones stated she is speaking out again, this time about Grande, not to body shame, but because she does not want Grande to experience the severe personal difficulties Jones herself has faced, including struggles with self-acceptance.
Jones concluded by noting the high mortality rate for eating disorders, stating that fewer than half of sufferers recover. She recalled predicting Amy Winehouse's death by age 25, a prediction that proved nearly accurate. The image of Grande "crouched in a guitar case" was cited as a particularly lasting impression.