Ariana Grande to pause public appearances after London tour
The singer will step back from public engagements following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour, citing ongoing scrutiny of her health and body.
Ariana Grande announced that she will take a break from public-facing work after her Eternal Sunshine tour ends in London on September 1. Her representative told People magazine that Grande looks forward to finishing the tour "on a high note, both healthily and happily" before stepping back from visibility, which has been accompanied by "endless, ongoing public scrutiny."
The pause will also mean Grande will not appear in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, a production that was scheduled to open at the Barbican Centre next summer opposite Jonathan Bailey. A source close to the singer said she "cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life."
The decision comes shortly after the release of Grande’s eighth studio album, Petal, and its title-track video, which sparked discussion about her body image. Body-positivity activist Charlotte Howard criticized the video, describing the imagery as potentially harmful to women and girls.
Grande has previously addressed public commentary on her appearance, noting in a 2023 interview that she has been treated as a "specimen in a petri-dish" since her teens and urging people to refrain from commenting on others' looks or health.