TW: Discussion of Eating Disorders and Body Image
On June 6, Ariana Grande kicked off her highly anticipated Eternal Sunshine Tour. After a seven-year hiatus, Grande took to the stage in Oakland, California, singing and dancing to some of her hits, old and new. But the visuals and powerhouse vocals weren’t the only thing people were talking about.
Casual listeners and die-hard fans alike have pointed out changes in Grande’s appearance, noting that she looks “malnourished,” with some even describing her as looking “gaunt.”
The picking apart of women in the public eye is nothing new. Grande herself is certainly no stranger to it. During the press run for Wicked and Wicked: For Good, people drew attention to the appearance of her and her co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh, who were also visibly thinner. The discourse surrounding it really tainted the era, with some fans jumping to echo Grande’s sentiments from her song “yes, and?”: “Don’t comment on my body, do not reply.”
From judgment about weight gain to aging to questioning whether or not they’ve gotten work done, it often feels as though women’s bodies are fair grounds for debate, ridicule, and speculation. However, the recent dialogue surrounding Grande, which seems to stem from genuine concern over her well-being, has made me wonder: Is it ever okay to discuss women’s bodies?
While I feel this is largely unfair, the reality is there’s a certain amount of responsibility people place on celebrities, particularly women, to uphold certain standards and serve as role models.
With the rise of GLP-1 medications for weight loss, celebrities appear smaller and smaller in red carpet appearances, and they seemingly push this trend onto the masses under the guise of health and wellness. It is undeniable that, in the wake of the body positivity movement, the pendulum has swung back to early 2000s levels of unattainable thinness. This is obviously really dangerous for young women who are exposed to it and may even try to emulate it.
But I want to discuss this sensitive topic with the level of care I feel is lacking in some of these conversations.
I’ve been a fan of Grande for a long time. I can recall earlier on in her career when people body-shamed her for being too small and “looking like a little girl.” That then evolved to fat-shaming her once she did gain weight. It’s a vicious cycle. Though she is someone of great influence, she is still a human being and a victim of the misogynistic social structures in place that harm women.
The internet is rarely a place for nuanced and empathetic discussion, especially when that discussion is laser focused on one individual, who we are concerned is dealing with a serious mental illness. The way we go about discussing eating disorders is flawed.
Yes, it’s true that we need to raise awareness about this, but it’s also worth learning how to approach such sensitive topics. Not only for Grande’s sake but also for the sake of other young women suffering from something similar. Many of the more flippant comments about Grande’s appearance can be more harmful in the long run. As I’ve learned from people discussing their experiences with disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or body dysmorphia, constant pointing out and concern over how thin they are can be affirming and not do much to help them get better; it can make it worse in some cases. It’s backward, but it’s the unfortunate reality of the illness.
Trying to get Grande to publicly comment on her health and adhere to whatever treatment plan we think she should is futile. The most we can realistically do as fans and onlookers is to support her in this and hope that she has a strong network of support.
There is a much broader conversation that needs to happen in regards to women’s body image. This is not an Ariana Grande issue. This is an issue with our diet-obsessed culture.
In the last few years on social media, casual fatphobia has become increasingly normalized. Take the “big back” and “girl dinner” trends. While both began as jokes, they quickly evolved into egregious displays of disordered eating and blatant body shaming. Even offline, consider the concept of almond moms, parents who enforce toxic dieting habits and food restriction on their own children.
Attempting to dismantle the cultural fixation on thinness and weight is an uphill battle, but there are actionable steps we can take to combat it. We need to change how we talk about our bodies and how we talk to young women about theirs.
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