Backlash Over 'Body Shaming' Comments: Ariana Grande Issues Strong Response to Critics
April 12, 2023 | Reading time: 3 minutes | News Desk
Backlash Over ‘Body Shaming’ Comments: Ariana Grande Issues Strong Response to Critics
Pop star Ariana Grande has delivered a firm, emotional response to a wave of body shaming and speculation about her appearance, after social media users flooded platforms with comments claiming she looked “sick,” “unhealthy” and “too thin.”(Los Angeles Times)
In a rare, candid TikTok video, the singer asked fans and followers to stop commenting on people’s bodies altogether — even when they believe they’re being “kind” or “concerned.”
“We should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies”
Grande opened her video by admitting she doesn’t usually address such topics publicly, but said the volume of recent remarks about her figure left her feeling she needed to speak up.(Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t do this often. I don’t like it. I’m not good at it,”
she said, before explaining how invasive constant scrutiny can feel for anyone living “in a body” in the public eye.(Los Angeles Times)
The Grammy winner then delivered a clear message to fans and critics alike:
People should stop commenting on bodies — whether they think someone looks “healthy,” “unhealthy,” “big,” “small,” “sexy” or “not sexy.”
Even “well-intentioned” remarks can be harmful, she stressed, adding that there are better ways to compliment someone that don’t fixate on their physical appearance.(Fox News)
“I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what,” she said, urging viewers to “help keep each other safer” by changing how they talk about looks online.(Fox News)
“The body you called ‘healthy’ was my unhealthiest”
Responding directly to those who circulated older photos of her and claimed she “used to look healthier,” Grande revealed that the period many fans idealize was actually one of the darkest times in her life.(Los Angeles Times)
She explained that in those images she was:
On a lot of antidepressants
Drinking while on medication
Eating poorly
“At the lowest point” of her life
That version of her body, she said, was “not my healthy.”(Los Angeles Times)
Grande emphasized that:
There are many ways to look healthy and beautiful
Outsiders usually have no idea what someone is going through, physically or mentally
No one should have to explain their health history just to stop strangers from judging their appearance(Los Angeles Times)
Still, she chose to share this context in the hope that “something good might come from it” by encouraging more empathy online.
A wider message about beauty standards and mental health
Throughout the video, Grande broadened her comments beyond her own experience, turning the moment into a general appeal against body shaming:
She reminded viewers that “you never know what someone is going through” — including mental health struggles, trauma or ongoing treatment.(Fox News)
She noted that many people already have a support system and professional help, and don’t need unsolicited diagnoses from strangers on the internet.(Fox News)
In a final, supportive note to fans, Grande said she believes they are “beautiful no matter what phase you’re in” — regardless of weight, makeup style or cosmetic procedures.(Fox News)
Her comments come after several years marked by highly publicized trauma, including the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing at one of her concerts and the 2018 death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller — events she has previously linked to anxiety and PTSD.(Fox News)
Why her response matters
Grande’s video has been widely shared as part of a broader backlash against online body policing, resonating with:
Fans who have faced similar scrutiny over weight changes
Public figures pushing back against rigid beauty standards
Mental health advocates who argue that “concern” comments can be triggering or intrusive
By firmly rejecting both negative and “positive” body commentary, Ariana Grande has aligned herself with a growing number of celebrities calling for a culture shift:
from judging appearances to prioritizing kindness, privacy and mental well-being.