Jameela Jamil has sparked a fierce online backlash after publicly declaring that Ariana Grande "is possibly dying right in front of us," responding to the pop star's strikingly thin appearance in her recently released Petal music video.
The 40-year-old Good Place star weighed in on the growing discourse surrounding Grande's health over the weekend.
Writing on social media, Ms Jamil stated: "This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us.
"This outfit is designed to accentuate the thinness for discourse. Her team are thoroughly irresponsible for not guiding her away from this deeply damaging image for her young fans to see so glamorised."
The remarks quickly drew criticism from Ms Grande's supporters, who accused Ms Jamil of body-shaming and making uninformed public statements about someone she does not personally know.
As the criticism intensified, Ms Jamil took to her Instagram Story to elaborate on her position, drawing on her personal battle with the eating disorder.
She wrote: "I said possibly. My god. And my point stands, that this is deeply irresponsible for all the people involved to deliver this aesthetic as glamorous to the many billions of girls and women consuming this imagery."
The California-based British actress explained that she felt "extremely bad for Ariana having almost died of anorexia myself," adding that her own survival was only possible because those around her eventually intervened bluntly after she had ignored their gentler expressions of concern.
Ms Jamil insisted her comments were not directed at Ms Grande personally but at the broader message being sent to young viewers.
She wrote: "I don't know Ariana and pray she recovers," stressing that the priority should be signalling to impressionable girls "that this is not the time to pretend this is ok."
The reaction on social media was divided.
One critic wrote of Ms Jamil: "She's just projecting her past experiences on Ariana, as if all bodies and disorders are the same."
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Others pointed out that Ms Grande has repeatedly said public commentary on her body affects her profoundly, suggesting Ms Jamil should have raised her concerns privately rather than online.
"Say this to her personally, don't body shame her to get clout," one user wrote.
However, a number of voices rallied behind Ms Jamil's stance.
Several drew comparisons to the late Karen Carpenter, whose death from anorexia-related complications followed years of public silence about her deteriorating health.
"She's right. Ariana fans will support her till there is nothing left of her," one supporter argued.
Others praised Ms Jamil for refusing to back down.
Ms Grande's eighth studio album, also titled Petal, was released on Friday, with the accompanying music video prompting widespread alarm about the 33-year-old singer's appearance.
In the video, Ms Grande portrays a character called Pepper, an aspiring starlet who endures a series of failed auditions.
Studio executives dismiss her as "unmarketable," "unattractive," and "inauthentic," telling her: "We miss the old you."
The character ultimately returns wielding a chainsaw to exact violent revenge on her critics.
Despite the video's pointed commentary on industry pressures faced by women, much of the online conversation focused instead on how gaunt Ms Grande appeared throughout.
"Her bones are literally popping out," one fan wrote.
Another described the footage as "shocking and heartbreaking."
Ms Grande has publicly maintained that she is in good health.
The 7 Rings singer announced on Sunday, through a statement issued by her team, that she intends to step away from public life once her Eternal Sunshine tour concludes in London on September 1st, citing the toll of "ongoing public scrutiny" over her appearance.
Ms Grande has pulled out of a planned 2027 production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican Centre, where she had been set to appear alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
The singer has previously addressed the relentless commentary about her body through her music.
In her 2024 track "Yes, And?" she sang: "Don't comment on my body, do not reply / Your business is yours, and mine is mine."
GB News has reached out to Ms Grande for comment.
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Jameela Jamil has sparked a fierce online backlash after publicly declaring that Ariana Grande "is possibly dying right in front of us," responding to the pop star's strikingly thin appearance in her recently released Petal music video.
The 40-year-old Good Place star weighed in on the growing discourse surrounding Grande's health over the weekend.
Writing on social media, Ms Jamil stated: "This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us.
"This outfit is designed to accentuate the thinness for discourse. Her team are thoroughly irresponsible for not guiding her away from this deeply damaging image for her young fans to see so glamorised."
The remarks quickly drew criticism from Ms Grande's supporters, who accused Ms Jamil of body-shaming and making uninformed public statements about someone she does not personally know.
As the criticism intensified, Ms Jamil took to her Instagram Story to elaborate on her position, drawing on her personal battle with the eating disorder.
She wrote: "I said possibly. My god. And my point stands, that this is deeply irresponsible for all the people involved to deliver this aesthetic as glamorous to the many billions of girls and women consuming this imagery."
The California-based British actress explained that she felt "extremely bad for Ariana having almost died of anorexia myself," adding that her own survival was only possible because those around her eventually intervened bluntly after she had ignored their gentler expressions of concern.
Ms Jamil insisted her comments were not directed at Ms Grande personally but at the broader message being sent to young viewers.
She wrote: "I don't know Ariana and pray she recovers," stressing that the priority should be signalling to impressionable girls "that this is not the time to pretend this is ok."
The reaction on social media was divided.
One critic wrote of Ms Jamil: "She's just projecting her past experiences on Ariana, as if all bodies and disorders are the same."
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Others pointed out that Ms Grande has repeatedly said public commentary on her body affects her profoundly, suggesting Ms Jamil should have raised her concerns privately rather than online.
"Say this to her personally, don't body shame her to get clout," one user wrote.
However, a number of voices rallied behind Ms Jamil's stance.
Several drew comparisons to the late Karen Carpenter, whose death from anorexia-related complications followed years of public silence about her deteriorating health.
"She's right. Ariana fans will support her till there is nothing left of her," one supporter argued.
Others praised Ms Jamil for refusing to back down.
Ms Grande's eighth studio album, also titled Petal, was released on Friday, with the accompanying music video prompting widespread alarm about the 33-year-old singer's appearance.
In the video, Ms Grande portrays a character called Pepper, an aspiring starlet who endures a series of failed auditions.
Studio executives dismiss her as "unmarketable," "unattractive," and "inauthentic," telling her: "We miss the old you."
The character ultimately returns wielding a chainsaw to exact violent revenge on her critics.
Despite the video's pointed commentary on industry pressures faced by women, much of the online conversation focused instead on how gaunt Ms Grande appeared throughout.
"Her bones are literally popping out," one fan wrote.
Another described the footage as "shocking and heartbreaking."
Ms Grande has publicly maintained that she is in good health.
The 7 Rings singer announced on Sunday, through a statement issued by her team, that she intends to step away from public life once her Eternal Sunshine tour concludes in London on September 1st, citing the toll of "ongoing public scrutiny" over her appearance.
Ms Grande has pulled out of a planned 2027 production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican Centre, where she had been set to appear alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
The singer has previously addressed the relentless commentary about her body through her music.
In her 2024 track "Yes, And?" she sang: "Don't comment on my body, do not reply / Your business is yours, and mine is mine."
GB News has reached out to Ms Grande for comment.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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