In the entertainment world, Ariana Grande has long been a well-liked celebrity due to her talent, attractive appearance, and approachable nature.

Fans are worried about recent public appearances, though.

“Scarily skinny”

Since her success as a child star on Victorious, Ariana Grande has become a household name. She has changed in many ways throughout the years, both emotionally and professionally. However, her most recent transformation, which included a dramatic drop in weight, has undoubtedly drawn a lot of interest from her fan base.

The internet was immediately inundated with comments over Ariana Grande’s appearance when she walked the red carpet at the BAFTA Film Awards.

Every time the 31-year-old pop artist enters the spotlight, she can’t seem to escape the never-ending internet debates about her figure.

Fans referred to her as “scarily skinny” and “terribly thin” after seeing a recent picture of her signing autographs at the BAFTAs.

“Terribly thin. I hope she can turn this around before it’s too late. I’m sure her organs are working overtime,” read one comment.

Another said, “She suffers from anxiety and this picture actually looks as if she is getting better. She was smaller than this at one point.”

“I hope she’s okay. She doesn’t look well,” another wrote. “…Something is up.”

Ariana Grande’s look sparked immediate conjecture that she suffered from an eating problem (ED).

”There is Hollywood skinny then there’s not ok skinny and she is not ok that is alarming skinny,” one commenter wrote.

“This is anrexia,” one person remarked, while another agreed, saying, “Damn, she’s anrexic. She needs help as soon as possible. Before her heart stops.”

“This is actually getting really concerning,” a fan added. “Every time she’s out and about she looks like she’s getting skinnier. To the people saying she’s fine, no she isn’t, this is the purest example of an*rexia there is.”

“She clearly has an ED and she needs help,” another said. “She’s scarily skinny these days … Atp she’s just skin and bones.”

According to behavioural and relationship expert Dr. Patrick Wanis, a lot of the ongoing criticism of Ariana Grande’s looks stems from what psychologists refer to as a “parasocial relationship”—a one-sided emotional bond that fans form with a celebrity despite the celebrity’s ignorance of their presence.

“Ariana Grande became famous as a Nickelodeon child star around age 17. The public has grown up with her and sees her through the lens of nostalgia, purity, and a fixed image of youth,” Dr. Wanis shared in an email to Bored Panda.

“Accordingly, any physical change—weight loss, weight gain, or aging—is magnified because people expect her to remain the same forever. Her fans identify with her youth.”

There has long been discussion about weight loss in the entertainment sector. Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, and numerous other celebrities frequently make headlines for their weight fluctuations, whether they are weight gain or loss.

Extraordinary pressure

Celebrities—especially women—are frequently under tremendous pressure to adhere to unattainable body ideals, which can result in hazardous weight loss habits.

Fans are imploring Grande to prioritise her well-being and take care of herself, even though she has not publicly addressed the health issues.

“The public expects female celebrities to strike an impossible balance—thin but not ‘too thin,’ toned but not ‘too muscular,’ natural but not ‘too real.’ This is an extension of the extraordinary pressure and societal expectation of women,” Dr. Wanis explained.

This “toxic mix of nostalgia, beauty standards, and social media culture” creates immense pressure on Grande and other pop stars to “remain frozen in time – eternally youthful, while still conforming to impossible expectations of unattainable standards if not perfection,” said Dr. Wanis, the creator of SRTT Therapy (Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique).

From conquering personal obstacles to discovering her voice in a frequently challenging field, Ariana’s path has been transparent. Her supporters respect her fortitude, but they also don’t hesitate to tell her that she should prioritise her health and happiness.