\u2018Remove this content immediately\u2019<\/p>\n
This weekend, everyone has been talking about the release of the official music video for petal, by Ariana Grande<\/a>. However, not for the best reasons.<\/p>\n Yet again, talk has gone to Ariana\u2019s health and body image<\/a>, and the scrutiny has gotten so much the singer has announced she is taking a step back from her public life. Following this, a few celebrities have spoken out about the video for petal, and have targeted the team working behind the scenes for Ariana Grande.<\/p>\n A model and eating disorder recovery advocate spoke out about the potential risks the imagery in the video has for younger audiences. She called out the team as \u201cappalling\u201d and said those responsible should be \u201cabsolutely ashamed\u201d.<\/p>\n *Content warning: This article contains discussions of eating disorders.*\u00a0<\/p>\n Sharing some viral images from the music video, Charli Howard said: \u201cI don\u2019t speak about my previous eating disorders much anymore \u2013 I have come on leaps and bounds since then \u2013 but weight loss still lingers at the back of my mind, especially as I have gained weight over the last 18 months. Will being thinner make me happier? Will it bring me relief, a partner, love, contentment? Deep down, and after years of therapy and recovery, I know this isn\u2019t true. But other women and girls do not.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s vital we discuss imagery\/videos\/content like these and the damage they can \u2013 and will \u2013 have on women and girls. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS NOT NORMAL. Over the past few weeks, as images of Ariana\u2019s concert get plastered around online, I obviously see comments from worried fans, but I also see other people convincing others that she looks \u2018healthy\u2019, or that she has simply \u2018lost puppy fat\u2019 (\ud83e\udd28). Some even make jokes about it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I see is someone in desperate need of hospitalisation and care, and while I know it\u2019s often impossible to help someone at this stage of anorexia, there HAS to be an immediate intervention. Over the years, I have met numerous women who have almost died from the disease \u2013 women who will spend their lives fighting demons that tell them they are worthless and ugly. These are women that can never have children; women who starve themselves as a means to starve away any shame or inner pain they may be experiencing.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is absolutely appalling, from both a moral and capitalistic standpoint, to have released these videos and an album when this person needs psychiatric help and hospitalisation. The teams involved should be absolutely ashamed. What\u2019s disappointing is that it takes teams \u2013 often hundreds \u2013 of people to approve videos like these and get them over the line. Each and every one of you, including her family and management, are enabling this person and encouraging her illness when she needs help.<\/p>\n \u201cI truly, truly hope she gets the help that she so desperately needs. We do not need a repeat of the early 2000s. We need to support and help this woman; give her rest and time to recover instead of putting her on stage; and remove this content immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n Jameela Jamil also made a similar comment on Instagram, which appears to have now been deleted. \u201cThis poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us,\u201d she wrote. \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Author Dolly Alderton was also in the replies to Charli Howard\u2019s post. She added: \u201cThank you so much for saying this Charli.\u201d<\/p>\n Featured image via Instagram @charlihoward<\/a>, YouTube and Instagram @dollyalderton<\/a>. For more like this,\u00a0like The Tab on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n