Jameela Jamil's new message to Ariana Grande after calling out singer's team
Warning: This article contains discussion of eating disorders which some readers may find distressing.
Jameela Jamil went viral yesterday (3 August) after calling out Ariana Grande’s team amid the release of her latest music.
The British star claimed the ‘7 rings’ singer was ‘possibly dying right in front of us’ following the drop of the ‘Petal’ video that accompanied her new album on Friday.
This all comes as the Wicked actor’s team announced she would be stepping away from the public eye when her tour wraps up in London on 1 September.
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And Grande has also pulled out of her highly anticipated West End debut, as she was set to star alongside Jonathan Bailey next year.
But as she spoke out during her concert last night, Jamila has issued a new message to the singer, as she thinks her ‘planned’ break is ‘great’.
Jameela Jamil’s latest comment
During her concert in Chicago last night, Grande spoke out on ‘taking a step back’ as she said the announcement was not a ‘reactive or impulsive thing’.
And Jamil has reposted a video of this to her Instagram Stories.
She wrote: “Ariana Grande explained this break was planned for a long time and was not a reaction to the public reaction to her work.
“She wants rest and boundaries and I think that’s great. It’s something more people need to do for themselves.”
Jamil’s ‘possibly dying’ comment
Prompting her initial comments, Grande’s new music video comes with a warning of ‘explicit content’ and ‘graphic violence’ as it appears to reflect on her journey to fame in music, TV and film.
While many fans are loving it, it has led to some other concerns about her health.
And Jamil weighed in, arguing Grande’s team could have better protected her.
"This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us," Jamil previously wrote. "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 glamorized.
"The shrinking pop star situation is something of a trolley problem. If we comment on her body, we could harm her mental health, which would be awful, and nobody wants that.
"If we don't comment on her body, we run the risk of normalising that image to hundreds of millions of teenage girls, kids and even impressionable adults, consuming her content. Content which is pointedly accentuating her bones and tiny frame with belts and corsets.
"I think it's worth considering that the pop star in question has access to a lot of mental health care and the best facilities on the planet, where as the fans watching, largely don't.
"Many have no support system equipped to handle the deadly clutches of anorexia. Her most recent images are flooding pro- anorexia websites and teenage girls are saying 'goals.' "When will it be time to intervene as a public and stop normalising, glamorising, and on some occasions championing this? When we lose a young woman in the public eve?"
She then added: "Sending everyone love, and if you're triggered or inspired by imagery of skin and bones on your favourite popstar please have a look at the work of @neda or @alliancefored."
Ariana Grande speaks out
On Sunday, a rep for the star revealed that she would be taking a ‘much-deserved break’ when the Eternal Sunshine Tour comes to an end next month.
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” the rep told PEOPLE.
“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
In clips shared from last night’s concert, Grande addressed the break.
“So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” she said
“It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know many things can be true at the same time."
She continued to clarify a few things.
“I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f**k opposite," she said to loud applause and cheers.
"Honestly, this is not what that is. And I just want to be very, very clear: multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes."
'The rest of that s**t is not mine to carry'
She went on: "And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life. No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or elaborate to me than this love that we share.
“The rest of that s**t is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it. I need to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.”
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 3pm-8pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat.
Topics: Ariana Grande, Celebrity News, Celebrity
Jess Battison