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It’s no secret: Being in the public eye comes with substantial scrutiny. And while not all of the chatter need be addressed, sometimes unwelcome comments are bravely and admirably quelled with a thoughtful, loving response. Today, this feat was deftly demonstrated by Ariana Grande when she took to TikTok to respond to comments on her body, doing so with graciousness and candor.
“I just wanted to address your concerns about my body and talk a little bit about what it means to be a person with a body and to be seen and to be paid such close attention to,” says Grande after making it clear that she wishes she didn’t have to address these sentiments at all. Grande went on to emphasize that commentary on body and health isn’t helpful, as even seemingly positive takes are unwarranted and potentially harmful.
According to experts, commenting on someone’s weight—regardless of intent—places an inordinate amount of focus on appearance as a tie to self-worth and overall value, meaning keeping thoughts and assumptions to oneself is usually the best route.
“There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful,” says Grande. “I know personally, for me, the body you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body.” The pop star adds that the physique fans are positioning as her “natural state” was a result of poor diet, antidepressants, and a generally low point in her life.
Grande concluded her statement with lots of love, a plea not to come for her lack of lashes and liner, and an important takeaway: “You never know, so be gentle with each other.”