Ariana Grande's Rep Confirms She's Taking a Step Back From Spotlight After Tour Ends
Ariana Grande plans to step back from public life following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, citing what her representative described as "endless, ongoing public scrutiny."
"Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour," a representative for Grande told People in a statement. "She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much."
The tour is set to conclude Sept. 1 following a 10-show residency in London. Grande has 13 shows remaining, with dates in both Chicago and London.
Dropping Out of a West End Production
As part of her planned break, Grande will no longer appear in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, according to People and The Hollywood Reporter. The production, set to open at London's Barbican Centre next summer, would have reunited her with Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. A source close to Grande told People she "cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life." The production is expected to cast another lead in her place.
"Petal" Video Reignites Concerns Over Her Weight
The announcement follows months of intensifying online commentary about Grande's weight and appearance, concerns that reached a new peak after the release of her music video for "Petal" last week, in which many fans and commentators pointed to her noticeably thinner frame.
Actress Jameela Jamil was among those who spoke out publicly, writing over the weekend that she believes Grande is "possibly dying right in front of us." Jamil compared her decision to comment publicly to the ethical "trolley problem," acknowledging that discussing someone's body can itself be harmful, while arguing that staying silent risked normalizing what she described as an unhealthy image for young fans. Jamil also criticized the "Petal" video's styling, arguing that corsets and belts used throughout appeared to emphasize Grande's frame rather than downplay it.
Grande has pushed back on commentary about her body before. In 2023, she told fans that the period many people point to as her "healthiest" era was actually one of the most difficult and unhealthy times in her life, a comment widely read as a rebuttal to years of public speculation about her weight.
A source close to Grande told The Hollywood Reporter that her upcoming album deals directly with the relationship between public figures and the attention they receive, describing it as "an anthem about the love-hate relationship with the public and their toxicity," and adding that the record "is not about any romantic partner or breakup in that way."
What Comes Next
Grande is next set to star opposite Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in Focker-in-Law, arriving in theaters Nov. 25. It remains unclear whether she plans to take part in the film's press tour given her planned step back from public appearances.
Representatives for Grande have not provided additional details about the length or scope of the break.
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