Ariana Grande is opening up about the pressure to be perfect in the spotlight.
In a joint interview with Cynthia Erivo conducted by French content creator Crazy Sally, the Wicked star, 31, choked up as she began recalling the criticism she’s faced throughout her career in regards to her appearance.
“I’ve been doing this in front of the public and been a specimen in a Petri dish really since I was 16 or 17. I have heard it all. I’ve heard every version of it,” said the singer after taking a moment to gather her emotion. “You’re young and you’re hearing all kinds of things.”
“It’s hard to protect yourself from that noise. It’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on, 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 added.
“I’m really lucky to have the support system that I have and 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. I just don’t invite it in anymore. I have work to do, I have a life to live, I have friends to love on. I have so much love. It’s not invited, so I don’t leave space for it anymore.”
She also encouraged others to protect their peace. “You keep yourself safe because no one has the right to say s—,” she said.
Erivo, who in the same interview spoke about applying her experience as an “alternative and different” Black woman to her role as Elphaba, said she was “proud” of Grande for being so honest about the subject.
In April 2023, Grande posted a rare, three-minute confessional to TikTok in which she addressed comments about her body.
“There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. And personally, for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body,” she continued. “I was on a lot of anti-depressants and drinking on them and eating poorly and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my healthy [sic], but that, in fact, wasn’t my healthy [sic].”
She continued: “The second thing is you never know what someone is going through, so even if you’re coming from a loving place or a caring place, that person probably is working on it or has a support system that they’re working on it with. You never know, so be gentle with each other and yourselves.”
