By Jill Murphy, Common Sense Media
Edition #24 | August 7, 2026
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The Ariana Grande Backlash, Explained |
If your kid has been watching Sam & Cat reruns, singing along to Wicked, or has had "thank u, next" on repeat since it came out, Ariana Grande has probably been part of their media diet for most of their life. She's been a fixture for kids and tweens for over a decade, first as a Nickelodeon star, then as a pop superstar, then as Glinda.
So there's a decent chance your kid has seen the latest wave of commentary about her, even if they don't fully understand what it's about.
Here's the short version: Grande released a new album and music video this summer, and the imagery reignited a debate that has followed her for years about her noticeably thinner appearance. Some commenters raised concerns about her health. Others called it body-shaming dressed up as concern. Her team responded by saying she's healthy and stepping back from public scrutiny for a while.
We're not here to litigate who's right. The bigger issue is that a public figure's body becomes a topic for mass opinion, dissected and debated by strangers, and kids pick up on that normalization whether or not they're following the specifics.
Kids don't always have the context. A tween who likes Ariana Grande but stumbles on a wave of "what's wrong with her" commentary may not know what to make of it. Some may wonder if it's "bad" to still like her. Others may just quietly absorb the idea that bodies are up for public debate.
This is bigger than one celebrity. The same script plays out repeatedly with public figures, mostly women. Whether it's framed as concern or criticism, watching it happen over and over can make this kind of body commentary feel normal.
It's also worth asking where those opinions come from in the first place. Why does a stranger online feel entitled to weigh in on someone's body? What's the difference between concern and judgment? Who benefits when this becomes a viral moment?
What to say, by age:
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Bigs (8–11): "Have you seen anything online about Ariana Grande lately? What did people say?" Keep it simple: Bodies change, and it's not something we comment on, even when it's someone famous.
- Tweens (11–13): "Do you think it's OK for people to post about a celebrity's body like that? Why do you think people do it?" This is a good age to talk about the difference between genuine concern and just wanting to add your take.
- Teens (14+): "What do you think is actually going on here: health concerns, internet pile-on, or both?" Ask where their impression came from: a headline, a clip, a comment section. That's the real critical-thinking question.
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Tonight's to-do:
Treat this as this weekend's media literacy assignment. Ask your kid what they've seen, where they saw it, and what they think about it. Mostly, listen to how they're processing it. For a deeper resource on these conversations as they get older, our Parents' Ultimate Guide to Social Media is a good one to bookmark.
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My turn: I Need Your Advice
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I need to send myself a newsletter. |
After only about five weeks, I am beyond frustrated with my daughter (13) being on Snap. I allowed it, I've been watching her, and I've seen her take it to levels I didn't anticipate. I've been calling it a trial for her, but really, it was a trial for me. As I've said before: Kids who don't have Snap can, will, and do make accounts on friends' phones and log in there. So I figured I'd get ahead of that by letting her have her own, with rules and expectations out in the open.
The armchair therapist in me now sees it clearly: I was figuring it out on the fly, and the trial has ended in a hung jury. There's a lot I don't like: the time spent, the workaround where she logs into her account on her sister's phone to dodge screen time (now they have to start getting along?!). And don't even get me started on Snap streaks and everything riding on them.
And now I am sitting at a crossroads. Summer is winding down, and she's focused on all the kids she met at camps, through sports, or otherwise that she can now Snap. Should she stay on with tighter restrictions? Should I extend the trial after one more real talk about expectations? Or do I pull the plug?
Do I need this stress? Does she?
Bring it, readers. I can take it ... I think. I want to hear what you'd do. If you're appalled at my decision or appreciate that I did it so you can make other (better?) choices, let me know. If anyone needs me, I'll be over here—again. [email protected]
Wish me luck.
— Jill
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