Fears for Ariana Grande as disturbing image emerges of star looking painfully thin – ‘it’s sad to watch it happen’

A fresh photo of Ariana Grande published on social media has today sparked fresh health concerns among her fans.

Signing autographs at the BAFTA Film Awards, the Oscar-nominated star displayed a very slim figure.

‘I just hope she’s okay because I certainly would not be if I were in her shoes and everyone felt so d*** entitled to talk about my body all the time,’ one user on Reddit said. 

Another wrote: ‘Every time I see a new pic I feel shocked all over again’.

‘It’s sad to watch it happen’, a third person said. 

The Grammy Award winning singer has been subject to relentless discussion about her appearance during the course of box office hit Wicked’s promo tour. 

But health professionals have long warned that having a visible sternum and gaunter cheeks as an adult may be a sign of health conditions including malnourishment and lipoatrophy — the loss of fat tissue. 

When losing weight, the bones and muscles of the chest area often become more visible. 

Malnutrition is a significant risk factor for ill health. 

As well as low energy and mood, it leads to loss of muscle mass, increasing the risk of falls and reduced mobility, and poor immunity, leading to a greater chance of infections.

The almost total loss of subcutaneous fat — just beneath the skin — can lead to pressure sores and delayed wound healing.

Both of which commonly result in extended hospital stays.

In an interview with the New York Times last year, both Ariana and her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo hinted at intensely pressured schedules on the Wicked set, with both contracting Covid during filming. 

‘We only got sick once each, but both were before some of the most important works of the whole movie — mine was the week before “Popular”‘, Ariana said.

‘I came to set with a mask on my final days of recovery to learn the hallway finale.’

When the actors’ strike forced production to a halt in the summer of 2023, Cynthia also admitted she was ‘grateful’ as they had both ‘worked [themselves] to the bone’.  

‘At first, it felt like an interruption, and then as it went on, it felt like the rest we needed’, she said. 

‘We’d worked ourselves to the bone. I was really grateful.’

In December during the Wicked press tour, during an emotional interview with the French journalist Sally, who’s real name is Salima Jeanne Poumbga, Ariana also addressed the relentless discussions online around her weight. 

The singer, who rose to fame on Nickelodeon’s Victorious in 2010, said: ‘I’ve been doing this in front of the public, been a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17. I have heard it all.

‘I’ve heard every version of it, of what’s wrong with me. And then you fix it, then it’s wrong for different reasons. 

‘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, “you look skinnier, what happened?” or, “you look heavier, what happened?”, that is something that is uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it’s happening — no matter the scale it’s happening on. 

‘I think in today’s society, there’s a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all commenting on others’ looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health, or how they present themselves. 

‘From what you’re wearing, to your body, to your face.’

She added that she feels ‘lucky to have the support system that I have to know and trust that I’m beautiful.’ 

In 2023, the Thank U, Next songstress also clapped back at bodyshamers and insisted that she was healthier than ever after pictures comparing her weight over the years went viral.

In a three-minute long TikTok video, she said: ‘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 [that’s] seen and paid such close attention to.

‘I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what.

‘If you think you’re saying something good or well-intentioned, whatever it is — healthy or unhealthy, big or small, this or that, sexy or not sexy, we should really work towards not doing that as much.’

The Yes And? singer also claimed the version of her that people were comparing her to was the ‘unhealthiest version of her body.’

‘There are many different kinds of beautiful. There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful,’ she stated.

‘And personally for me, the body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body.’

She explained that she was ‘on a lot of anti-depressants’ and ‘drinking on them,’ which is usually not recommended because of dangerous interactions.

Ariana also admitted that she was ‘eating poorly and at the lowest point of her life’ when she looked the way her fans considered her healthiest.

‘I know I shouldn’t have to explain that, but I do feel like maybe having an openness or vulnerability, something good might come from it,’ she added. 

‘Healthy can look different.’