We Must Talk About This

Rotem Izak argues that despite Ariana Grande's right to privacy, one cannot remain silent about her extreme thinness given the sharp rise in eating disorders. She quotes Jameela Jamil, who expressed concern, and notes that in the US, 10,200 people die each year from eating disorders, while Israel has seen a 135% increase in patients since 2020.

Singer Ariana Grande announced earlier this week that she will take a break from the spotlight after her current tour, following "incessant public criticism" focused on her dramatically reduced body size. British actress Jameela Jamil tweeted that Grande might be "literally dying before our eyes," and that her team is being irresponsible. Fans were outraged and accused her of body shaming, and she responded that "this is not the time to pretend it's okay." The column presents a dilemma between two positions: on one hand, reducing women to their appearance is a patriarchal mechanism of oppression, as described by Naomi Wolf in "The Beauty Myth" (1990). On the other hand, silence in the name of political correctness could give a hand to the beauty ideal. Izak emphasizes that Grande has 363 million Instagram followers, and with that power comes responsibility. She notes that in the US, 10,200 people die each year from eating disorders, and Israel has seen a 135% increase in the number of patients since 2020. Grande is a "trigger" for young female fans, and she deserves sensitivity, but they also deserve concern.

We Must Talk About This