Since the press tour for the film adaptation of Wicked began months ago, the topic of Ariana Grande's appearance has been quite a popular discussion online. Following the film's premiere, the criticism surrounding the "Popular" singer has only worsened due to the attention she is receiving from the movie, but in a recent interview with French journalist, Sally, on episode 6 of Oui Oui Baguette, Ariana opened up about the beauty standards she faces as a woman in the entertainment industry and how harmful body shaming can be.
Ariana held back tears as she recounted her experience being analyzed under a microscope since her teen years while her Wicked co-star, Cynthia Erivo, held her hand in support.
"I think in today's society there's a comfortability, uh, that we shouldn't have—at all—commenting on other people's looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes, or health or how they present themselves you know from what you're wearing to your body to your face to your everything. There's a comfortability people have, um, commenting on that I think is really dangerous—and I think it's dangerous for all parties involved," she stated.
And this is not the first time the pop sensation turned thespian has asked viewers to keep their thoughts to themselves. Ariana took to TikTok in April of 2023 to share a similar message and even included a line in "Yes, and?", her first released single off of her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine, that stated, "My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise. Do not comment on my body, do not reply."
So why are people still talking about this when the star has made it clear on where she stands on the issue? You may be amidst the group of fans who have thought to themselves, "I love Ariana Grande! I'm commenting to help her." After all, it was fans who started the #FreeBritney movement that helped Britney Spears end her years long conservatorship. Of course, this begs the question, are these comments helpful?
Historically, there has been discourse online about the inappropriate nature of commenting on a person's appearance only if there was a perception they appeared to be in a larger body, but if there is anything to be observed from current conversations around Ariana Grande, it's that comments about a person's body, even well-meaning, can still cause a lot of distress at any size.
As much as fans care about their favorite stars and have the ability to connect with their inner most thoughts and feelings through social media platforms in this digital age, it is important to remember parasocial relationships are deceiving. The public does not know the full story of what Ariana faces behind closed doors, nor do they know what she is doing to try to combat the struggles she faces. While it is both acceptable and understandable to wish celebrities well, it is more harmful than helpful to comment on their bodies because it invites more attention that comes with criticism and fuels the obsession with beauty that drive unhealthy thoughts and behaviors born from the insecurity of being scrutinized by others.
Living in a world of photoshop, filters, Botox, plastic surgery and more is overwhelming for anyone. For Ariana Grande, being a woman in entertainment means being held to beauty standards on a large scale that come with the impossible pressure of trying to please everyone from the industry to the public eye. Next time you go to hit that comment button, remember to be respectful.