Ariana Grande Defends 'Petal' Video 5 Days After Release as Appearance Backlash Intensifies
Updated
Updated · Billboard · Aug 5
Ariana Grande Defends 'Petal' Video 5 Days After Release as Appearance Backlash Intensifies
3 articles · Updated · Billboard · Aug 5
Summary
Five days after "Petal" debuted, Ariana Grande used Instagram to praise the video and its team, posting behind-the-scenes photos and writing that she loves the visual "with my entire heart."
The defense came after the title-track video for her eighth album portrayed an entertainer pushed to alter her looks and then violently turning on critics, a theme that collided with fresh online scrutiny over Grande's slender appearance.
A People statement from her representative said Grande plans to step back from public-facing work after her tour ends Sept. 1, citing "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" and her withdrawal from a West End revival of "Sunday in the Park With George."
Chicago fans heard Grande insist the break was not reactive but a long-set plan, as she finishes 2 more shows there before 10 closing nights at London's O2 Arena.