Ariana Grande has been reaching her career heights, with her new movie Wicked: For Good all set to be released in November, 2025, the actress has joined the academy for Oscar voting. However, the pop star has been facing public concern over her noticeably slimmer physique. Grande’s journey to weight loss is not just an aesthetic alteration, it is a deeply intertwined outcome of her ongoing battles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and her personal trauma. Here’s a closer look at what may lie behind her transformation and what the singer thinks about the public discourse over her appearance.
The visible shift in Ariana Grande’s appearance
Ariana Grande is a Grammy-winning pop star, actress, and beauty entrepreneur known for her powerhouse vocals and chart-topping hits but over the few months her appearances have drawn attention. Many media outlets reported she looked shockingly slim at the BAFTA Film Awards, prompting concern over fatigue and physical stress caused due to her packed schedule. A source close to Ariana told Page Six that her work is physically so demanding and she is running nonstop. It has definitely taken a toll on her health, mentally as well as physically. Throughout Wicked’s promotion her appearance has raised concerns among fans.
Public response to Ariana Grande’s appearance
Public response has been intense towards the whole situation surrounding Ariana’s appearance. Many fans are voicing genuine concern. On Reddit, one user remarked, “Ariana genuinely looks sick, her face looks hollow, her body looks frail and she moves like she’s made of glass.” Another warned her appearance is giving full-blown ED vibes, reflecting on the fear among the fans that her weight loss is crossing the red line and turning into a disorder. However, many came to the singer’s support, asking others to not put the star in a spotlight and respect her privacy. A user on Instagram commented, “Some people suffer in silence, you never know what they’re going through”, reinforcing calls for empathy.
Ariana Grande’s reaction to the whole issue
Ariana posted a video on TikTok to publicly address the speculations. She said the body that she is being compared to was the unhealthiest version of her. She was on a lot of antidepressants and eating poorly. She went on and said, it was the lowest point of her life but people considered it her healthiest, purely on how her body looked. She emphasises on how the other person is never truly aware of what an individual is going through. She urges fans to be gentle and empathetic. In an interview with the French outlet, Oui Oui Baguette, Ariana got emotional while addressing the issue and said she has learnt to keep herself safe from the noise and is protecting herself from letting what others say affect her.
Ariana Grande has been dealing with PTSD and anxiety
For understanding Ariana’s physical health concerns, it is important to take a deeper look into the trauma she has experienced. After the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, Grande developed PTSD, anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms including dizziness and breathlessness. In her 2018 Elle interview, she said, when she got home from the tour, she had a really wild dizzy spell and she couldn’t breathe. She always had anxiety, but it had never been physical before this. On the Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Grande reflected on creating Sweetener and Thank U, Next while dealing with PTSD, grief, depression and anxiety. She credited songwriting and therapy as her lifelines.
The Mac Miller factor still affects Ariana Grande
The death of her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller in September 2018 added another layer of trauma for Ariana. She has described him as her dearest friend and sweetest soul. As reported by Page Six, sources say she carries guilt over his overdose which resulted in his demise. This grief of losing a close friend, alongside the PTSD from Manchester and the stress of fame, contributed to her declining mental health. Anxiety, depression, and trauma all have been speculated to influence her eating patterns and body.
Ariana Grande has been very vocal about her discomfort
Ariana Grande has repeatedly spoken out against body shaming. December 2024, in an interview, she became emotional while discussing how critiques of her appearance have followed her since her teens. She said she’s been a specimen in a Petri dish since she was 16 or 17. She’s heard every version of what’s wrong with her. She has tried to fix it and realised it is a worthless effort as it is all wrong again for some other reason. She has called public commentary “dangerous”. In her Tik Tok video, she asserted, no one should have to explain their physical appearance to anyone. Fans have celebrated her for her courage and continuously supported her in her journey.
Ariana is fighting back with therapy and music
Throughout her life, Grande has emphasised on the importance of therapy. She’s been in counseling since adolescence, discussing major life altering incidents, including her parents’ divorce. She has turned to songwriting as an emotional therapy. Her song Get Well Soon, from Sweetener, is a candid tribute to her ongoing struggles with anxiety and PTSD, described by critics as a freeform, self-help soul ballad. In Paper, Grande told that Pharrell had urged her to write it down to heal. Her songs have been a reflection of her inner state for a long time now.
What’s Next for Ariana Grande?
Ariana is all set to make a return as ‘Glinda’ in the second instalment of the musical, Wicked, R.E.M Beauty continues to grow and her musical endeavours persist with her latest album Eternal Sunshine debuting as Billboard no 1. Fans hope she sustains balance through continued therapy, mindful self-care, and supportive relationships.
Ariana Grande’s recent weight loss reflects on her lifelong battle with PTSD, anxiety, grief, and societal pressures. Her courage offers a powerful message that self-worth isn’t measured by appearance.
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