Everything Ariana Grande Has Said About Stepping Away From The Limelight

Ariana Grande has addressed fans directly during her Eternal Sunshine tour after announcing that she will be taking a step back from the public eye when the tour concludes in September.

During the first of three sold-out shows at Chicago’s United Center on Monday night, the singer paused her performance to speak about the news surrounding her upcoming break, telling more than 20,000 fans that she wanted to address them herself after reports about her decision began circulating online.

“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,” Grande told the crowd. “So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much.”

@varietymagazine #ArianaGrande speaks out about her decision to take a break from her professional career during the first night of her tour in Chicago: “So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” she told the crowd at the #EternalSunshineTour ♬ original sound – Variety

The 33-year-old explained that her decision was not a reaction to recent criticism or negativity surrounding her, but something she had been considering privately for some time.

“The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” she said. “It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”

Grande also reassured fans that the decision should not be interpreted as a sign that she is unhappy with her career or her current tour.

“I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more … opposite,” she said.

The singer went on to emphasise that taking a break and enjoying her career are not mutually exclusive.

“Human beings can need a break sometimes,” she explained, while describing the Eternal Sunshine tour as “the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.”

She added that the tour has been “the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.”

 

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Grande’s speech came just one day after her representative confirmed that she will be “taking a step back from visibility” following the conclusion of her tour.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, her representative said that Grande wants to finish the tour “on a high note” before taking a “much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances”, following what the representative described as “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”

The announcement comes after years of intense public discussion surrounding Grande’s appearance, weight and health.

Scrutiny surrounding her body intensified during the promotion of Wicked, particularly after she took on the role of Glinda alongside Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh. The attention continued throughout the press tour for Wicked: Part Two, with fans and critics frequently commenting on Grande’s appearance.

 

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More recently, concerns resurfaced during the singer’s Eternal Sunshine tour, as well as following the release of the music video for her latest single, Petal. The track is taken from her newly released album of the same name, which arrived on July 31.

The video, which sees Grande taking a chainsaw to a panel representing her critics, prompted further discussion online about her appearance.

However, a source close to the singer has defended her health and ability to perform, explaining that the Eternal Sunshine show is highly physical and requires a significant level of athleticism.

“She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved,” the source told PEOPLE, adding that Grande performs “healthily and successfully at a very high-level night after night.”

 

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Despite the ongoing online commentary, Grande made it clear during her Chicago speech that she does not intend to allow outside opinions to overshadow her experience on tour.

“No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality,” she told fans. “The rest of that shit is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it.”

Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour will conclude in London at the O2 Arena on September 1, after which she plans to step away from public-facing work and appearances.

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. 1/2

— Sunday In The Park With George (@SundayParkStage) August 2, 2026

Alongside taking a break from the spotlight, Grande has also stepped down from another major upcoming project. It has been confirmed that she will no longer appear in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, which was due to open at London’s Barbican Centre next summer.

The production was set to reunite Grande with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, who remains attached to the project.

While Grande will no longer take the stage alongside Bailey, her representative said she “cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life.”

For now, Grande’s focus remains on completing her Eternal Sunshine tour and enjoying what she has described as one of the most meaningful experiences of her professional life before taking some well-earned time away from the public eye.

Words by Robyn Jane Lawlor