Ariana Grande Expresses Frustration Over Appearance Comments

Singer Ariana Grande, 31, fought back tears as she spoke about the pressure to look perfect and expressed her disapproval of people freely commenting on others’ appearances.

During the “Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Open Up ft. Sally” program on December 6, the singer discussed today’s beauty standards, which place immense pressure on women to “always be perfect.” Grande held back emotions when a journalist asked how she copes with public scrutiny and criticism about her appearance. Actress Cynthia Erivo, her co-star in Wicked, comforted Grande as she tried to hold back tears.

Ariana Grande (left) and Cynthia Erivo during the interview. Photo: YouTube Sally

Grande shared that she has been dealing with public commentary since she was 16 or 17 years old. She recalled hearing many inaccurate statements about herself and trying to clarify them, only for misconceptions to persist. The artist explained that she has been criticized for almost everything, even something as simple as her appearance.

“It’s so hard to protect yourself from all that noise. When you’re young, you hear all sorts of things. At any level, it’s always unsettling. Even at a family dinner, someone’s grandmother might say, ‘You look too skinny, what’s wrong with you?’ or ‘You look too heavy, what happened?’ I can’t tolerate it—it feels terrible,” she said.

Grande pointed out that people in today’s society have “an unwarranted comfort” in freely commenting on others’ bodies, health, and self-expression. Despite facing hurtful remarks, Grande said she is grateful for friends and family who constantly remind her of her beauty and worth. She no longer pays attention to negative comments and has no hesitation in cutting ties with those who make hurtful remarks about her. “No one has the right to judge others,” she said.

The singer posing in a Louis Vuitton dress. Photo: Instagram Ariana Grande

Recently, the thank u, next singer has drawn attention on red carpets, with many fans expressing concern about her health due to her noticeably slimmer appearance, according to outlets such as Daily Mail, Mirror, and The Telegraph. In April 2023, Grande addressed concerns about her weight loss while filming Wicked in London. Speaking on TikTok at the time, she urged the public to “be gentle and restrained when commenting on people’s bodies.”

She said, “The body that you’re comparing my current state to was the unhealthiest version of me. Back then, I was taking a lot of antidepressants and eating poorly. It was the worst period of my life, but you thought I was healthy. The truth is, I wasn’t thriving. You never know what someone has gone through. So even if your comments come from a place of love and concern, the person you’re addressing might be struggling or working to recover.”

Ariana Grande at the Wicked promotional event in Mexico on November 11. Photo: AP

Born in 1993, Ariana Grande is an American singer and actress. She began her career on Broadway before starring in television series. In 2013, she released her debut album Yours Truly. In 2016, Grande was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. She has also appeared in several films, including Victorious (2010), Sam & Cat (2013), and Don’t Look Up (2021).

In March, Grande finalized her divorce from real estate broker Dalton Gomez after nearly three years of marriage. She is currently dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.