Ariana Grande is backing her “Petal” music video after it drew renewed attention and controversy over her appearance, according to Billboard.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Grande posted behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot on Instagram and limited comments on the post. In one image, she and director Christian Breslauer can be seen checking a monitor during a scene where she is covered in fake blood, while another shows a friend laughing with one of the artificial breasts Grande wore for a different moment in the video.
In the caption, Grande said she loved the video “with my entire heart” and thanked her collaborators and friends for helping bring the song and its story to life. The “Petal” video was released the same day as her eighth studio album, also titled Petal.
The video centers on criticism Grande has faced about her looks and personal life, with her character repeatedly pushed to change her appearance before turning on the people judging her. Billboard reports that online reaction to Grande’s appearance in the video was intense, and her representative later said she planned to step back from public-facing work after her tour ends in early September.
Grande later told fans in Chicago that the planned break was not a reaction to recent criticism, saying it had been decided long before and came from a thoughtful and empowered place. Her tour continues with more Chicago shows before heading to London for its final dates, wrapping on Sept. 1.
