Advocates Criticize Ariana Grande's New Video Over Potential Harm to Young Viewers
Model Charli Howard and actor Jameela Jamil called on Ariana Grande's team to withdraw the "Petal" music video, saying its imagery could negatively affect young audiences.
Ariana Grande released the music video for "Petal," the title track from her eighth studio album, on July 31. The video, shot in the VistaVision format, portrays Grande as a performer named Pepper who is repeatedly rejected by a panel of older studio executives before she turns a garden chainsaw on them.
Model and eating-disorder recovery advocate Charli Howard posted on Instagram expressing concern that the video's imagery could harm women and girls. She wrote that discussions about weight loss and body image persist long after treatment and that the visual content is "not normal." Howard also suggested that Grande may need professional mental-health support and called on the singer's family, management and record label to withdraw the video and allow her time away from performing.
Actor Jameela Jamil echoed similar concerns in a now-deleted Instagram comment, describing the outfit in the video as emphasizing thinness and labeling the team's handling of the material as irresponsible.
Both advocates urged the video's removal, citing potential negative impact on young fans.