Bill Maher drew groans from the live audience on “Real Time” after making a joke about Ariana Grande’s weight during a monologue about newly released UFO files. The incident matters because it came shortly after Grande announced plans to reduce her public visibility, citing persistent public scrutiny.

Maher first compared a supposed stick-like alien figure to Grande, prompting laughter and applause, before adding that the joke might “make her eat something”, which was met with disapproval. Grande’s representative said on 2 August that she would step back after completing her Eternal Sunshine tour, while Grande later told fans in Chicago that the decision had been planned well in advance and was made thoughtfully.