Bill Maher made a joke about Ariana Grande‘s weight during a recent episode of Real Time.
READ MORE: Ariana Grande – ‘Petal’ review: conflicted pop songs under the spotlight
The joke, which aired during Friday’s (August 7) episode of his show drew mixed reactions from the live audience.
“I hope the aliens are here, I do. I hope they’re here and watching us and they’re going to save us,” Maher said during his opening monologue. “And, by the way, the administration this week, just a few days ago, maybe yesterday, unleashed a new trove of UFO files. Interesting things in there. Triangular craft, weird lights over an army base, a stick-like figure with large eyes. Oh, that was just an Ariana Grande video.”
The joke comes in light of public commentary surrounding Grande’s body and appearance, which intensified online after she recently released the video for ‘Petal’, the title track from her new album.
Initially, Maher received laughs and applause from the crowd; however, his follow-up joke was met with groans: “Please, we kid. We kid. Maybe that joke will make her eat something.”
The White House released a new wave of UFO files. Sightings include a triangular craft in the sky, high-speed orbs near an army base, and a stick-like figure with large eyes, but that was just Ariana Grande. pic.twitter.com/buBBGk2Ze4
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) August 8, 2026
It comes after the pop star’s representatives confirmed last weekend that she would be “taking a step back from visibility” following her current ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour.
She has also withdrawn from the upcoming West End revival of Sunday In The Park With George, in which she had been due to appear alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. It would have been her West End debut at London’s Barbican Centre, starting next summer.
Grande has since commented on reports about her break, taking a moment during a recent concert to “clear the air about a few things”.
“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion, so I wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much,” the singer told the audience.
“The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It was something that I have decided. A plan that I had quietly made a long time ago. It was a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
She went on: “I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the far opposite. This is not what that is. And I just want to be very, very clear: multiple things can be true at the same time.
“Boundaries need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes and also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.”
@chris
HER PUTTING HER PHONE IN HER BOOT AT THE END 
we love uuuu @arianagrande #arianagrande #eternalsunshinetour
♬ original sound – Chris Olsen
The initial statement about Grande’s decision to step back from public life came shortly after she released her eighth studio album, ‘Petal’, on July 31.
Her reps said she would be “taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny”. The message stated that Grande would end the tour “on a high note, both healthily and happily”.
People quoted a source close to the star, who emphasised that she was in good health. “She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved,” they commented. “She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night.”
Last month, it was reported that Grande had also pulled out of the new season of American Horror Story due to touring commitments.
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