What’s Happening to Ariana Grande?
Pop star Ariana Grande has announced a break from public life following intense media and fan scrutiny regarding her physical appearance. The article discusses the broader cultural obsession with celebrity bodies and the negative impact of public speculation.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of celebrity culture, mental health, and the toxic nature of online body shaming in the digital age.
This week, a very thin Ariana Grande announced that she’d be “taking a step back from visibility” following growing concern about her shrinking frame. (Illustration by The Free Press ) Plus: coaches for disappointing men, memoirs by women going through it, and when to say ‘no’ to therapy. And more. By Suzy Weiss 08.07.26 — Second Thought FOLLOW COLUMN --:-- --:-- Upgrade to Listen Produced by ElevenLabs using AI narration 22 68 READ IN APP READ IN APP Hi, all! I’m working on a few stories right now—including about whether God loves AI, and the rise of face tattoos—but I did sneak away from my desk midweek to record an episode of Second Thought with Dan Ahdoot. There’s too much going on in the culture to stay silent.
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