Ariana Grande addresses 'horrible' comments about health and body

Ariana Grande has been the subject of speculation about her body for months, and she's once again addressing critics, calling the comments "horrible."

Grande spoke out about the criticism on the "Wicked" press tour's London leg, in conversation with French content creator Crazy Sally (whose real name is Salima Jeanne Poumbga) and her co-star Cynthia Erivo.

"How do you cope with beauty standards (from) critics because this is something that is so overwhelming for women to always look perfect. How do you deal with that?" Crazy Sally asked.

The "We Can't Be Friends" singer said: "I've been kind of doing this in front of the public and kind of been a specimen in a petri dish, really, since I was 16 or 17," later telling Sally the "pressure of that noise" has been a "resident in my life since I was 17 and I just don't invite it in anymore."

Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and why cruel body comments around 'Wicked' need to stop

She continued: "I've heard every version of it, of what's wrong with me, and then you fix it, and then it's wrong for different reasons."

But Grande said everyone, from everyday people to Hollywood stars, faces these discussions, telling Sally again that it's "hard to protect yourself from that noise."

"Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner and someone's granny says, 'Oh, my God, you look skinnier, what happened?' or 'You look heavier, what happened?' It's like, that is something that is uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it's happening, no matter the scale it's happening on," she added.

"In today's society, there's a comfortability that we shouldn't have at all, commenting on other's looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health or how they present themselves," Grande said. "From what you're wearing to your body to your face to your everything."

Ariana Grande previously addressed fan concerns about her body

Grande previously spoke out about fans' concerns over her body in a TikTok in April 2023, saying that "there are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful” and that her previous physical appearance was "the unhealthiest version of my body."

"I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my healthy," she said. "But that in fact wasn’t my healthy."

Grande reminded her followers that "you never know what someone is going through" and to refrain from commenting on other people’s bodies.

"Even if you are coming from a loving place and a caring place, that person probably is working on it or has a support system that they are working on it with," Grande said. "So, be gentle with each other and with yourselves."

Ariana Grande got emotional with Drew Barrymore while discussing fame

During a Thursday appearance on "Drew," the "Wicked" star had an emotional heart-to-heart with her fellow child star. During the daytime talk show's "Silly Questions" segment, Grande shared her admiration for Barrymore as a public figure.

Ariana Grande stuns Drew Barrymore with heartfelt message during 'Wicked' interview

"I don't know too much about what your relationship has been to this industry the whole time, but I do know what you have shared publicly about it, and I just have to say, it can be ugly sometimes," Grande told Barrymore. "Your strength and your heart and who you are, the light that you bring and your ability to dance in the rain and preserve that childlike wonder is such a gift."

A visibly emotional Barrymore told Grande she is a longtime fan of her, adding that she is "so proud that my daughters and I love you so much."

"You're such a good person, and what you've done with this film ('Wicked') and your life and your work is ... you've shown that no matter what ? because it can be dark and ugly sometimes ? is that you just find that beauty," Barrymore said.

Contributing: Charles Trepany, Edward Segarra

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ariana Grande says comments about her body are 'horrible'