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“Everyday She Looks Worst”: Ariana Grande’s Latest ‘Wicked’ Set Photo Fuels Concern
Wicked set photo of a person in blonde wig and stage makeup, mirror selfie with teary eyes and lollipop

“Everyday She Looks Worst”: Ariana Grande’s Latest ‘Wicked’ Set Photo Fuels Concern

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Ariana Grande’s latest behind-the-scenes photo from Wicked was meant to mark an emotional goodbye, but it quickly ignited concern among netizens online. 

The image, shared as part of her farewell to her character Glinda the Good, showed the actress in full costume and makeup holding a lollipop as tears streamed down her face. 

Highlights
  • Ariana Grande shared an emotional farewell photo from the Wicked set that quickly sparked concern from netizens online.
  • The image showed Grande in her Glinda costume with tears streaming down her face.
  • The moment marked the end of Grande’s five-and-a-half-year journey as the iconic Wizard of Oz character.

While many fans saw Grande’s post as a show of vulnerability, others interpreted it as yet another troubling sign of the award-winning singer’s well-being.

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    Ariana Grande posted a tearful goodbye to Glinda after five and a half years

    Image credits: Savion Washington/Getty Images

    Ariana Grande posted a gallery of photos to Instagram capturing her final moments as Glinda, the role she played for more than five years across both Wicked films.

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    The most talked-about image featured Grande crying openly in her Glinda gown, giving a thumbs-up while tears ran down her face. She captioned the post, “bubble things five and a half years with G.”

    Other photos showed several behind-the-scenes moments from the Wicked set, including hair and makeup touch-ups and a candid Polaroid selfie with director Jon M. Chu, according to the Daily Mail

    Fans reacted to Ariana Grande’s photos with concern, criticism, and fierce defense

    Image credits: arianagrande/Instagram

    As Grande’s Instagram photos spread across social media, reactions from netizens quickly became polarized. Some expressed alarm, interpreting the emotional photo as a sign that something deeper might be wrong.

    “Ariana Grande is dy*ng,” one user on X wrote. “Everyday she looks worst (sic),” another stated.

    Others insisted they had seen this coming. “I knew something was wrong and I told y’all, y’all said I was hating,” one person claimed.

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    Image credits: arianagrande/Instagram

    But not everyone agreed with the negative framing. Many fans pushed back hard, defending Grande and criticizing the speculations surrounding the award-winning singer.

    “She looks fine. Leave her alone,” one comment countered.

    Another added, “It doesn’t seem like anyone around her is even remotely bothered by it.”

    Ariana Grande previously wrote an emotional open letter to Wicked fans

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    Image credits: arianagrande/Instagram

    This was not the first time Grande publicly said goodbye to her role as Glinda the Good. Back in November, she shared a lengthy open letter after Wicked: For Good premiered to record-breaking box office numbers.

    In the message, she described the Land of Oz as her “safe space” and reflected on lessons she learned through the story, including how “to love unconditionally,” “to forgive,” and “to fiercely protect ourselves and each other.”

    “Becoming your Glinda the Good and being asked to join this most wonderful group of human beings on a most creatively and emotionally fulfilling journey was the greatest gift of my life,” she wrote. 

    Image credits: arianagrande/Instagram

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    “I have learned more from my time with Glinda than anyone. Whenever things get scary or you feel alone, home is wherever and with whomever we want it to be,” she wrote in her letter, signing off as “Your Glinda.”

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    Grande’s reflections were received positively by fans of the blockbuster franchise. 

    “Ariana out here writing the sweetest love letter to her Glinda era full main-character energy and pure Broadway sparkle,” one fan wrote on X. 

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    Image credits: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

    “You can feel how much this role meant to her… So genuine,” another wrote. 

    “Ariana talking about Glinda like it changed her whole soul, this is beautiful,” a third commenter wrote. 

    Ariana Grande’s tearful goodbye to Glinda mirrored co-star Cynthia Erivo’s farewell to the Wicked franchise

    Image credits: arianagrande/Instagram

    Grande’s farewell followed a similarly emotional goodbye from her co-star Cynthia Erivo, who portrayed Elphaba. 

    Erivo shared her own message on Instagram, where she reflected on her journey as Wicked’s main character. As per Erivo, no words or numbers could fully capture what the experience meant to her.

    “I could write you an essay, a poem, Shakespearean prose, to describe what this journey has meant to me, what lessons this time has taught me, bought me,” she wrote in her post. 

    “I could try to give a metric to the love I have felt and experienced. I could give a number to the stories I have heard. The truth is the numbers are too small and the words are not enough.”

    Image credits: arianagrande/Instagram

    “So I’ll simply say this. Take my hand and walk with me to the end of this road paved with gold and hopefully, the things that I’ve found, might find you too. Thank you for letting me be your Elphaba.”

    Wicked: For Good became one of the biggest box-office stories of the year, opening to $150 million in North America and $226 million worldwide in its debut weekend. 

    The film has since crossed $518 million globally, cementing its place as one of the most successful musical adaptations to date.

    Netizens shared their thoughts about Ariana Grande’s tearful Instagram post on social media

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    Peter Michael de Jesus

    Peter Michael de Jesus

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

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    After almost a decade of reporting straight hard news, I now bring that discipline to entertainment writing at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity updates, viral trends, and cultural stories with speed and accuracy, while also embracing the lighter, evergreen side of pop culture. My articles are often syndicated to MSN, extending their reach to broader audiences. My goal is straightforward: to deliver trustworthy coverage that keeps readers informed about the stories dominating the conversation today.

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    Peter Michael de Jesus

    Peter Michael de Jesus

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    After almost a decade of reporting straight hard news, I now bring that discipline to entertainment writing at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity updates, viral trends, and cultural stories with speed and accuracy, while also embracing the lighter, evergreen side of pop culture. My articles are often syndicated to MSN, extending their reach to broader audiences. My goal is straightforward: to deliver trustworthy coverage that keeps readers informed about the stories dominating the conversation today.

    What do you think ?
    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is worse than watching Karen Carpenter go downhill.

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry - I am so anti body shaming, but this doesn't look healthy. I have been small most of my life - 5'1", 95 lbs for most of my adult years - but I never looked like this. I never looked gaunt, but to me she does. I do not think she's well, mentally or physically. Takes a doctor to make the call though.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not really a fan of hers (I don't hate her either, just don't care one way or the other) but she does look unwell :( She's over 10 years younger than I am, but looks like she's 15 years older than me. I imagine she's under unimaginable pressure (either from her own self or from others) to remain "relevant" after her popularity as a child/teen actress and performer. I hope she has a support network of people who truly care about her as a person and not as an entertainment commodity.

    Load More Replies...
    xolitaire
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sorry but the entire "dama" about the Wicked movies seems like a freaking cult to me. All the actress lost a ton of weight, talk about the movies like they are the best thing ever created on this Earth and behave like they are on d.rugs.

    veirdbuttrue
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I agree, it does seem really weird, It is just a movie. The actors got paid well and had a great time. But it's not going to change else's anyone's life!

    Load More Replies...
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    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is worse than watching Karen Carpenter go downhill.

    Mel in Georgia
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sorry - I am so anti body shaming, but this doesn't look healthy. I have been small most of my life - 5'1", 95 lbs for most of my adult years - but I never looked like this. I never looked gaunt, but to me she does. I do not think she's well, mentally or physically. Takes a doctor to make the call though.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not really a fan of hers (I don't hate her either, just don't care one way or the other) but she does look unwell :( She's over 10 years younger than I am, but looks like she's 15 years older than me. I imagine she's under unimaginable pressure (either from her own self or from others) to remain "relevant" after her popularity as a child/teen actress and performer. I hope she has a support network of people who truly care about her as a person and not as an entertainment commodity.

    Load More Replies...
    xolitaire
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sorry but the entire "dama" about the Wicked movies seems like a freaking cult to me. All the actress lost a ton of weight, talk about the movies like they are the best thing ever created on this Earth and behave like they are on d.rugs.

    veirdbuttrue
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I agree, it does seem really weird, It is just a movie. The actors got paid well and had a great time. But it's not going to change else's anyone's life!

    Load More Replies...
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