Ariana Grande is addressing online criticism about her appearance following the “Wicked: For Good” premiere and press cycle.
On Nov. 29, Grande posted an Instagram story that featured a clip from a December 2024 interview with co-star Cynthia Erivo, calling it a “loving reminder to all.”
The resurfaced clip comes amid conversation online about the appearance of several members of the “Wicked: For Good” cast.
During the interview with journalist Salima Jeanne Poumbga, known professionally as Sally, Grande was asked about how she copes with societal beauty standards and critics.
The singer took the opportunity to address commentary about her appearance and defend herself, noting she’d been part of the discourse since she was a teenager in the public eye.
Grande posted the video Saturday and captioned it, “re-sharing this from last year as a loving reminder to all. I always love and appreciate our talks so much @sally !!!”
In the full clip, the interviewer pointed out that Glinda, Grande’s character in “Wicked,” subscribes to beauty standards both for herself, but also to please others. When asked how she navigates beauty expectations and the pressure to look perfect, Grande appeared emotional, calling it a “good question.”
“I’ve been kind of doing this in front of the public and a specimen in a petri dish really since I was 16 or 17,” she explained. “I have heard it all. I’ve heard every version of it, of what’s wrong with me. And then you fix it, and then it’s wrong for different reasons.”
Grande said that she would be picked apart for “even just the simplest thing,” including her appearance. She also reflected on hearing those comments at a young age, adding, “It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise.”
However, Grande also noted that the criticism is “something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on,” whether it’s directed at a celebrity or not.
“Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner and someone’s Granny says, ‘Oh my god, you look skinnier! What happened?’ or ‘You look heavier, what happened?’” she said. “That is something that is uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it’s happening.”
Grande said that in society, “there’s a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all,” including commenting on how other people look, speculation about what’s happening behind closed doors and what people wear.
“There’s a comfortability that people have commenting on that that I think is really dangerous,” Grande said. “I think that I’m really lucky to have the support system that I have to just know and trust that I’m beautiful. But I do know what the pressure of that noise feels like. It’s been a resident in my life since I was 17 and I just don’t invite it in anymore. It’s not welcome.”
Grande also offered advice to those experiencing a similar situation, adding, “And however you all can protect yourself from that noise, whether it’s at a family reunion or online, if you have to block people, I don’t care. If you delete the app entirely. You keep yourself safe because no one has the right to say s---.”
The singer has previously addressed commentary about her body and appearance, including responding to “concerns” about her weight in April 2023.
Grande shared a TikTok video at the time, noting in the clip that she didn’t tend to speak about rumors but made an exception given the sensitivity of the topic.
“I just wanted to address your concerns about my body and talk a little bit about what it means to a person with a body and to be seen … to be paid this close attention to,” she said. “I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what.”
Grande later added, “There are ways to compliment someone or to ignore something that you see that you don’t like that I think we should help each other work towards.”
