Ariana Grande is planning to withdraw from public appearances once her Eternal Sunshine tour ends next month, with her team saying the decision comes after years of “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
The 33-year-old US singer will also no longer star in the upcoming West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George at London’s Barbican in 2027 A representative for Grande told People magazine that when the tour wraps, she “will be taking a step back from visibility.”
The statement emphasized that the break is about health and wellbeing after a demanding run of shows and constant media attention.
“She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved,” the representative said. “She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night
The team added that Grande is looking forward to finishing the tour “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
It then moves to the UK, where she will play 10 dates at London’s O2 Arena beginning August 15. The final show is scheduled for September 1
Grande had been announced to appear alongside Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in the new production of Sunday in the Park with George. The musical, which won the Pulitzer Prize, was due to open at the Barbican in 2027
“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,” a spokesperson said.
“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best.
Grande’s physical appearance and health have been subjects of public discussion and online speculation in recent years. That conversation intensified this past week following the release of her new album, Petal, on Friday, and the promotional visuals that came with it.
In the music video for one of the album’s singles, Grande plays a performer in auditions who is repeatedly told she is “not good enough,” “desperate,” and given conflicting notes about her looks — “you should get some work done” followed by “you’ve had too much work done.”
The video ends with her character taking a chainsaw to the critics, a pointed commentary on the pressure placed on women in the spotlight.
The imagery resonated with fans who have watched Grande navigate commentary about her body, voice, and personal life for over a decade.
Many fans expressed support for the break and concern for her wellbeing, thanking her for being open about the toll of fame
Grande first rose to fame as a teen actress before becoming one of pop’s biggest stars with hits like Thank U, Next and 7 Rings. In recent years she has balanced music with acting, earning acclaim for her role as Glinda in Wicked alongside Jonathan Bailey.
That crossover success made the planned theatre reunion in London highly anticipated. But her team says the schedule, travel, and public exposure that come with both touring and a major stage role were no longer sustainable.
Celebrities stepping back from the spotlight is not new, but Grande’s announcement speaks to a broader conversation about scrutiny, especially for women in music and film.
The constant commentary on appearance, the dissection of every performance, and the speed of social media discussion can create intense pressure. Grande’s team directly linked her decision to that environment.
By naming “endless scrutiny” as a factor, the statement acknowledges what many artists have described privately for years: that being constantly watched and judged takes a toll
For now, Grande’s focus is on closing out the Eternal Sunshine tour. After the London finale on September 1, she plans to step away from red carpets, press, and major productions.
There’s no timeline for her return to public-facing work. Her team has not said when or if she will resume acting or recording projects, only that the break is needed.
The West End producers say the show will go ahead and casting is underway. Fans will still get to see Sunday in the Park with George in 2027, just without Grande in the lead.
Those close to Grande say she has been performing at an elite level while managing both physical demands and public pressure.
The decision to pause, they argue, is not about stepping away from music or art, but about protecting the person behind it.for an artist who has spent most of her adult life in the public eye, that peace will start in September — away from the cameras, the speculation, and the stage
