A viral image claiming to show Ariana Grande in an emaciated state has circulated on social media platforms. The image appears to be from an awards ceremony, with Oscar statuettes visible in the background. Social media posts accompanying the image suggest Grande is experiencing health issues related to an eating disorder. The timing coincides with Grande’s nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Oscars for her performance in Wicked. An examination of the source material indicates that the widely shared image has been digitally altered from its original form.
A widely-shared image appearing to show Ariana Grande appearing noticeably thinner than usual has been spreading across social media. However, our investigation reveals that the original photo has been digitally manipulated to make Grande look much thinner than she actually is.
Social Media Claim
Multiple social media posts have shared a photo of Ariana Grande looking extremely thin, with visible bones and a gaunt face. The photo shows what appears to be an awards event with Oscar statuettes in the background. Since Grande was recently nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Oscars for her role in Wicked, many viewers assumed this was a recent photo. This timing led people to believe Grande is currently experiencing serious health problems.
Fact check
Our investigation using reverse image search techniques traced the origin of the image in question. We found that it has been digitally altered to exaggerate Ariana Grande’s thinness and provoke alarm. The reverse image search and direct comparison reveal that the viral photo has been manipulated, particularly in her face, arms, and torso, to emphasize frailty in a way that does not reflect her actual appearance.
The original, unedited photograph was published on January 5, 2025, by entertainment news site, JustJared, covering Grande’s appearance at the Palm Springs International Film Awards, where she accepted the Rising Star Award. In that version, while she does appear slimmer than in past years — a topic Grande herself has addressed publicly, her appearance is not nearly as extreme as depicted in the doctored image.
In the article titled “Ariana Grande Pokes Fun at Her Age While Accepting Rising Star Award“, she is shown in a strapless white gown with no visible signs of critical health issues. The photographic evidence presented in this legitimate source does not support claims of a “life-threatening” condition. See another image of Grande at the same event below.
More recent appearances provide additional context. At CinemaCon in April 2025, Grande appeared alongside co-star Cynthia Erivo to promote Wicked. Photos from the event, published by People magazine, show Grande in a black dress. Her appearance at this event differs significantly from the manipulated image circulating on social media.
Ariana Grande’s Public Statement on Body Image
Ariana Grande has previously spoken out against public commentary on her body. In a TikTok video posted in April 2023, she urged people to be more mindful, stating: “We should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what.”
She emphasized that appearances can be misleading, noting that the version of her body once considered “healthier” was actually during one of her lowest points, and reminded viewers: “There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful… You never know what someone is going through.”
Grande’s comments highlight the danger of making assumptions based on appearance alone, a point especially relevant when evaluating misleading, edited images like the one in this viral post. (Source)
Conclusion
The image of Ariana Grande shared on social media platforms is false and appears to be altered from the original photograph. Comparison with verified sources shows significant differences between the viral image and authentic photos from the same and recent events. The original photographs from reputable entertainment sources do not indicate the extreme physical condition depicted in the circulated version.
