Ariana Grande has announced that she plans to step away from public-facing work once her current concert tour concludes, citing the impact of “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.
The singer has also withdrawn from the forthcoming London revival of “Sunday in the Park with George”, in which she had been scheduled to star alongside her “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey.
The new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s acclaimed musical is due to open at the Barbican in summer 2027.
A representative for Grande told People: “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.”
“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
Empire Street Productions confirmed that the musical would proceed as scheduled, with another performer set to take over Grande’s role.
In a statement to the Press Association, the company said: “Empire Street Productions have said 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.”
“We wish her nothing but the best. The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”
“Sunday in the Park with George” first opened on Broadway in 1984, with Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters leading the original cast.
Inspired by Georges Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, the musical follows the artist as he works to complete the celebrated piece while navigating his relationship with his lover and muse, Dot.
Grande’s decision was announced shortly after she released the music video for “Petal”, the title track from her newly released eighth studio album. The video prompted renewed online discussion about the singer’s appearance, weight and health.
One of the album’s songs, “Like I Do”, also appears to address years of commentary about her body, featuring the lyric: “I’ve got shit to talk, keeps me well fed.”
Grande previously became emotional during a 2024 interview when she was asked how she coped with pressure “to always look perfect”.
She described herself as being “a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17. I have heard it all. I have heard every form of what is wrong with me. And then you fix it and then it is wrong for different reasons.”
She added: “It is hard to protect yourself from that noise. I think that it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on.” Comments about weight could be “uncomfortable” and “horrible”, she said.
“From what you are wearing, to your body, to your face, to your everything – there is a comfortability that people have commenting on that that I think is really dangerous. I think it is dangerous for all parties involved.”
Grande later reshared the interview on social media in November, describing it “as a loving reminder to all”.
The Eternal Sunshine Tour is scheduled to reach the UK in August, when Grande begins a 10-night residency at London’s O2 Arena. The tour is due to conclude with her final London performance on 1 September.
Grande has received three Grammy Awards during a music career that gained momentum following the release of her debut album, “Yours Truly”, in 2013.
She initially rose to prominence as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television series “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat”, before later earning an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Glinda in the film adaptation of “Wicked”.
