Ariana Grande will step back from public visibility after completing her Eternal Sunshine Tour on September 1, citing ongoing public scrutiny over her appearance. The Grammy-winning pop star and Oscar nominee is also dropping out of an upcoming West End theatrical revival.
Pop star and actress Ariana Grande is planning an extended break from the limelight following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine Tour. A representative for the artist confirmed the upcoming hiatus, pointing directly to endless public attention directed at her physical appearance during recent promotional runs and concert dates.
The tour concludes on September 1 following a ten-show residency at London’s O2 Arena. Her spokesperson noted that Grande looks forward to finishing her concert run successfully before stepping away from public-facing work.
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour. 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.”
Ariana Grande’s representative
Stepping Away From West End Revival Plans
As part of her planned hiatus, Grande is dropping out of Stephen Sondheim’s West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George
. She had been slated to star opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in the production, which is scheduled to open at London’s Barbican Centre in summer 2027.
Empire Street Productions released a statement acknowledging the departure. The theatrical team confirmed that casting for the lead role will proceed and that the production will move forward as planned.
“Following this evening’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George. We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.”
Empire Street Productions, via The Hollywood Reporter
Intense Online Focus and the Release of Petal
Public discussion surrounding Grande intensified recently following the release of her eighth studio album, petal, at the end of July. Social media users and online commentators focused heavily on her appearance in the music video for the album’s title track, Petal
, raising questions about her weight loss and health.
While Grande has not directly addressed the most recent wave of commentary, a source close to the singer described the new album as a fight song
and an anthem about the love-hate relationship with the public and their toxicity
to The Hollywood Reporter.
Blockbuster Successes and Unclear Holiday Promotional Plans
The break follows a sustained period of heavy professional output. Grande reached new career heights starring as Glinda alongside Cynthia Erivo in the 2024 film adaptation of Wicked, a cultural phenomenon that earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She subsequently released her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, in 2024, followed by her globe-trotting concert itinerary.
Looking ahead, Grande is slated to star opposite Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in Focker-in-Law, which is positioned as a holiday release by Universal and arrives in theaters on November 25. Universal has not yet commented on whether Grande’s planned hiatus will interfere with promotional tours for the upcoming film.
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