Ariana Grande has provided further context regarding her announcement to take a step back from public visibility once her current world tour concludes next month. The 33-year-old musician and actor addressed the situation during the first of three scheduled performances in Chicago on Monday night. Reading from prepared notes, she clarified to the audience that the decision was not impulsive or reactive, but rather something she had been quietly planning for a significant amount of time.
The singer’s shift in career focus includes her withdrawal from the upcoming London production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George. She had been slated to appear at the Barbican next summer alongside her Wicked co-star, Jonathan Bailey. Her decision follows what a spokesperson characterized as “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
Grande appeared to address recent concerns regarding her weight, which intensified following the release of the music video for her new single, “Petal.” The video, which features the artist taking action against critics, prompted Instagram to attach a community note providing resources for those suffering from eating disorders. During the Chicago show, Grande expressed her desire for boundaries, stating, “Boundaries need to be set, human beings do need a break sometimes.”
She also addressed fans who expressed worry that negative commentary was affecting her, assuring them that the opposite was true. “I love you, this is what I want always… the rest of that commentary is not mine to carry,” she told the crowd. Grande described her current tour as one of the most “healing, beautiful, correct and special experiences” of her life. The tour is set to continue with a 10-night residency at London’s O2 Arena beginning on 15 August.
