Please note: This opinion article discusses eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and body image.
Ariana Grande’s video for “Petal” is one of her boldest artistic statements to date. Sure, the bloody scenes and the Carrie-inspired image of Ariana Grande covered in blood are designed to shock. And honestly? They should. “Petal” is a powerful, visually arresting statement about feminine rage, misogyny, and what happens when women are pushed to their breaking point. I loved that Ariana wasn’t afraid to go there. But as powerful as the video’s message is, I found myself leaving it with a completely different feeling than I expected, one that had nothing to do with the blood or empowerment.
Any woman who has worked in entertainment—or in almost any industry where outdated, misogynistic attitudes still thrive—knows what it’s like to be talked down to, overlooked, or made to feel like you’re never quite good enough. And don’t even get me started on the mansplaining.
Twice in my career, I was either screamed at with such hatred or spoken down to in such a demeaning way that it reduced me to tears. Both times were by men in power positions. Those moments are part of the reason I chose to build my own business and become self-employed. Even today, those memories are still palpable. When I think back on them, the emotions feel as fresh as if they happened yesterday.
Watching Ariana’s character finally unleash years of bottled-up frustration felt cathartic.
Not because I condone taking a Texas Chainsaw Massacre approach to sexist men, no matter how tempting that fantasy may be, but because there’s something undeniably satisfying about seeing feminine rage portrayed so unapologetically. After years of being dismissed, belittled, and gaslit, her character finally explodes.
Whether the criticism comes through direct insults, passive-aggressive comments, dismissive body language, or constantly being overlooked, this is the kind of toxic environment that can leave lasting emotional scars. Women have long paid the price for these environments with anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders, and other mental and physical health struggles. Which brings me to what has become the biggest conversation surrounding Ariana Grande’s “Petal” music video: her appearance.
Many fans, journalists, and creators have expressed genuine concern about how thin Ariana appears. These conversations aren’t coming from internet trolls looking for someone to ridicule (although there are some a-holes taking advantage of a situation). They are, in many cases, coming from people who care about her.
My heart sank while watching parts of the video.
Yes, Ariana has always been petite. But some shots—particularly those featuring the black outfit inspired by Sandy from Grease—were difficult for me to watch. As the old Hollywood saying goes, “the camera adds 10 pounds.” Despite that not being completely true, the camera does give a real optical effect because of wide-angle lenses and a flat two-dimensional image. It’s understandable why so many viewers have become concerned.
Here we have a visually striking video with important messaging about misogyny and feminine rage and the impossible standards women continue to face, especially within the entertainment industry.
Yet at the same time, Ariana herself appears—at least publicly—to many viewers to embody the very pressures the video is criticizing. Whether she’s simply overworked, dealing with private health issues, or something else entirely, none of us truly know. That’s important to acknowledge.
While none of us know exactly what Ariana is going through, there are signs that she may finally be getting the opportunity to rest. According to PEOPLE, a representative for Grande said she plans to step back from public life after completing the Eternal Sunshine Tour and will then take “a much-deserved break.”
Grande is expected to perform three shows starting Aug. 3, closing out the North American leg of her tour at Chicago’s United Center. She will then head to London on Aug. 15 for 10 final concerts, officially wrapping up her 2026 tour.
But it’s still difficult not to wonder whether enough people in her inner circle are looking out for her well-being.
Maybe they are. Maybe conversations are happening privately behind closed doors. We simply don’t know. When you love someone, sometimes the hardest thing you can do is tell them you’re worried. Nobody wants to reduce Ariana Grande to discussions about her body. But there are moments when concern comes from compassion rather than cruelty.
The reason this conversation matters extends beyond one celebrity: young girls are watching.
In the video for “Petal,” they’re seeing a woman reclaim her power, stand up to misogyny, and own her voice. That’s incredibly inspiring. But they’re also seeing that message delivered by someone whose appearance has prompted widespread concern. And that concern has been brewing for quite some time.
Those two messages exist simultaneously. As a parent, that’s what worries me. My 9-year-old daughter loves artists like KATSEYE, Karen O, RAYE, and Chappell Roan. She imitates KATSEYE’s style, their poses, and their confidence. Sometimes she gets frustrated because she’s not satisfied with her appearance. Or, as the kids say, her swag.
If my daughter is already comparing herself to pop stars at nine years old, I can’t help but wonder what other young girls are thinking when they see Ariana Grande on stage, in music videos, and across social media.
Because of these comparisons, we’ve had many conversations about beauty, health, and self-worth. And ever since she was a toddler, she has been flipping through body-positive books like Bodies Are Cool. But sometimes, it’s not enough. It is nearly impossible not to compare oneself to what we see on screen, on stage, or through social media.
I grew up in Southern California during the height of the Kate Moss era in the 1990s. I remember the impossible beauty standards. Tiny bikinis, short shorts, and hip-hugger jeans with a ridiculously low-rise. The comparisons were endless. Spending summers at the beach while secretly worrying about whether my body was thin enough.
Many of my friends and I struggled with body image. Some developed eating disorders or body dysmorphia. Others still carry those wounds decades later.
The beauty standards of the late ’90s and early 2000s caused real damage.
Today, when I see my daughter worrying about her appearance, it does give me pause, but then I remember she has parents who remind her that bodies come in all shapes and sizes. We tell her that health (both mental and physical) matters far more than chasing someone else’s idea of perfection.
I always validate her feelings while reminding her that beauty is vast. It doesn’t have one definition or one ideal. What one person finds beautiful may be completely different from what someone else sees. I often use her love of 2-D from Gorillaz as an example. She has a crush on the animated singer, even though he famously has no visible eyes. One day she asked me, “Do you think 2-D is cute?”
I smiled and said, “Honestly? I’m more into Murdoc.”
She immediately squealed in disgust, which made us both laugh.
This post may contain affiliate links, and Grimy Goods may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our independent, fan-powered media network.
Moments like that give me an opportunity to remind her that attraction and beauty are deeply personal. We all connect with different people for different reasons. There is no universal standard for what’s cute or beautiful—and that’s exactly what makes beauty so interesting. What matters is being a good human and staying healthy and happy.
Unfortunately, many young girls don’t have those conversations at home. Instead, celebrities become their blueprint. That’s why representation matters.
For years, especially during the height of the body positivity movement, commenting on someone’s body became taboo, and for good reason. Many women had spent years being mocked for being too fat, too skinny, too curvy, or not curvy enough. The criticism never stopped.
Now we’re living through another cultural shift. GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy have dramatically changed conversations around weight loss. Whether someone chooses to use those medications is their personal decision, and no one should be shamed for pursuing better health under medical supervision.
But Ariana Grande isn’t at the center of this conversation because of Ozempic rumors or celebrity gossip. She’s at the center because many people who admire her are worried.
There is a difference between body shaming and expressing concern. One seeks to humiliate. The other hopes someone is okay.
Many people outside the entertainment industry wonder why someone close to Ariana hasn’t spoken up. The reality is that we have no idea what conversations may already be happening privately. Friends, family, and colleagues are not obligated to share those deeply personal moments with the public.
If those conversations are happening, I hope they’re filled with compassion, empathy, and support—not judgment. Because this conversation doesn’t begin or end with Ariana Grande. She’s hardly the first celebrity whose dramatic physical transformation has sparked concern, and she certainly won’t be the last.
As fans and audiences, we should be careful not to speculate about anyone’s medical condition. At the same time, we shouldn’t lose our humanity by pretending that visible signs of struggle should never be acknowledged. Sometimes caring means sounding an alarm and asking difficult questions.
Like many women, I found the conversations surrounding Ariana’s appearance deeply triggering. Writing this article brought back memories I hadn’t revisited in years. It reminded me of darker chapters in my own life and of friends who fought battles with eating disorders and body dysmorphia, or the beloved artists we lost due to mental health issues. Those experiences never completely disappear.
My heart goes out to anyone currently struggling with an eating disorder or body dysmorphia, to those in recovery who continue fighting every day, and to anyone this article may have brought back painful memories for.
If this conversation accomplishes anything, I hope it’s a reminder that behind every public image is a human being deserving of compassion, and that behind every young girl watching is someone learning what beauty, health, and self-worth are supposed to look like.
Need Help?
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, or body image, please reach out to a trusted loved one or mental health professional. Help is available.
