Ariana Grande’s mom, Joan Grande, is supporting her daughter as the pop star prepares to take a “step back” from the public eye amid scrutiny over her body size and perceived health.
The singer, 33, shared some behind-the-scenes photos from the now-controversial music video for her song “Petal” on Monday, August 3.
“Petal in the pavement …… ♡,” she captioned the slideshow.
Joan flocked to the comments section to prove she is her daughter’s No. 1 fan.
“You are magnificent… and this video is incredible!! I love it and I love you more!!!” Joan gushed.
Ariana released the “Petal” music video on Friday, July 31, the same day she dropped her eighth studio album of the same name. The video sparked near-instant online debate and criticism among many fans and social media users, who expressed concern over Ariana’s figure and health.
Amid the discourse, a spokesperson for Ariana announced on Sunday, August 2, that the Grammy winner will be stepping out the spotlight after completing her Eternal Sunshine tour.
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” the spokesperson said in a statement to People. “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
Ariana’s tour will wrap up on September 1 after 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena.
“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much,” the statement concluded.
Ariana’s upcoming hiatus also means that the actress will no longer appear in the West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George. (Ariana was set to star opposite her Wicked costar Jonathan Bailey in the stage musical.)
Ariana has not publicly addressed the most recent online commentary regarding her weight or her break. Us previously reached out for comment but did not hear back.
Ariana has been the subject of online scrutiny regarding her weight and figure for years, at one point addressing the comments head-on amid accusations she was struggling with an eating disorder.
“I don’t do this often. I don’t like it. I’m not good at it. I just want to address your concerns about my body,” the singer said in an April 2023 video shared via TikTok. “There are ways to compliment someone or to ignore something that you don’t like that I think we should help each other work toward.”
Ariana also offered advice on how to speak to others should someone become concerned about a person’s health.
“Just to aim towards keeping each other safer,” she added. “There are many different kinds of beautiful. There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful.”
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 for free, 24/7 support.
