Ariana Grande is taking a darkly comedic look at Hollywood in her new ‘Petal’ music video released Friday alongside her eighth studio album, Petal.
Directed by Christian Breslauer, the music video stars Grande as Pepper, an aspiring actress determined to make it in Hollywood. She repeatedly auditions for executives at the fictional casting agency Fame Inc., only to be met with increasingly harsh criticism.
The executives dismiss Pepper as “boring,” “desperate” and “unmarketable,” sending her back to audition again and again. The polished, vintage-inspired setting gives the video the appearance of a glamorous period piece while highlighting the frustrating obstacles Pepper faces as she tries to break into the entertainment industry.
Things take a dramatically darker turn when the executives accuse Pepper of being inauthentic. After enduring their constant rejection, she finally snaps and takes revenge on the room full of Hollywood suits with a chainsaw.
The bloody finale is a striking departure from the video’s otherwise pristine, retro aesthetic, adding a horror-comedy edge to Grande’s latest visual. Watch the video below:
The ‘Petal’ music video accompanies the title track from Grande’s new album and marks the second single from the project. The song follows “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” which was released in May, and was co-produced by hitmakers Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh.
With its Hollywood satire, glamorous period visuals and unexpectedly gruesome ending, Ariana Grande’s ‘Petal’ video offers a memorable twist on the classic story of an aspiring star chasing her big break.
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