Jameela Jamil is facing backlash for her public comments regarding the perceived thinness of singer Ariana Grande. Jamil, an actress and activist who has spoken openly about her own past struggles with anorexia, expressed concern over Grande's figure, particularly after the release of Grande's music video for "Petal."
Jamil wrote on social media, "This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us. This outfit is designed to accentuate the thinness for discourse. Her team are thoroughly irresponsible for not guiding her away from this deeply damaging image for her young fans to see so glamorized."
These remarks, while seemingly stemming from concern, have ignited a debate online, with many criticizing Jamil for commenting on Grande's body. Detractors argued that Grande has previously stated that comments about her body affect her deeply and that such observations should be kept private. Some suggested Jamil was projecting her own experiences and that focusing on Grande's appearance was unhelpful.
Conversely, some users supported Jamil's stance, agreeing that Grande's appearance was concerning and that the normalization of extreme thinness in media is problematic. They argued that silence in such cases amounts to complicity and recalled the tragic case of Karen Carpenter, who died from anorexia.
Jamil later sought to clarify her comments, emphasizing that she said "possibly dying" and reiterated her concern about the message glamorized thinness sends to young audiences. She drew a parallel to how societal reactions to the thinness of children in Gaza differ from those towards a pop star, questioning when the industry will address beauty standards. Jamil stated she felt "extremely bad for Ariana having almost died of anorexia myself" and prayed for Grande's recovery, while stressing the need to signal to young viewers that such an aesthetic is not acceptable.
The discourse intensified following the release of Grande's music video for "Petal," in which the singer appears significantly thinner. While the video itself contains social commentary, many viewers focused on Grande's physique, drawing comparisons to Karen Carpenter and expressing worries about her health. Others defended Grande, asserting that commenting on her body was inappropriate and that she has the support of her own family and friends.
This incident also brings to mind Jamil's recent controversial statements where she described British people as "the most evil people in history," a remark made during an anti-colonial podcast discussion.