Bill Maher made a joke about Ariana Grande’s weight during a recent episode of Real Time, according to NME. The remark aired during Friday’s August 7 broadcast and drew a mixed response from the live audience.
During his opening monologue, Maher joked that one of the supposed UFO sightings looked like “an Ariana Grande video.” He then added a follow-up line that drew groans from the crowd: “Maybe that joke will make her eat something.”
The comments came amid ongoing public discussion about Grande’s appearance, which has intensified online after she released the video for “Petal,” the title track from her new album.
Grande’s representatives recently confirmed that she would be “taking a step back from visibility” after her current Eternal Sunshine tour. She has also withdrawn from the upcoming West End revival of Sunday In The Park With George, which would have been her London stage debut.
Grande later addressed reports about her break during a concert, saying the decision was planned well in advance and was made from a “thoughtful and empowered place,” according to the article.
