Bill Maher made two jokes about Ariana Grande’s appearance during the opening monologue of *Real Time with Bill Maher*, prompting a mixed reaction from the studio audience. While the first joke drew laughter, a subsequent remark suggesting it might make Grande “eat something” was met with groans, underlining concern about jokes that appear to target a person’s weight or health.

Maher’s comments followed the White House’s release of new UFO files, which he used as the setup for the jokes. Grande has recently withdrawn from a planned West End revival of *Sunday in the Park with George* and announced a temporary break, saying she needed to set boundaries; she has not publicly given a specific reason for the break despite online discussion about her appearance.