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Ariana Grande is set to take a break from public life after wrapping up her Eternal Sunshine tour, with her representative saying the singer is stepping away following continued public discussion about her health and appearance.
The singer will be "taking a step back from visibility" after the tour concludes in London on September 1. The announcement comes only days after the release of her eighth studio album, Petal, which has sparked renewed conversation about her body and health.
Speaking to People, Grande's representative said: “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.”
They added: “This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
People also confirmed that Grande will no longer appear in the upcoming West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George.
The production is scheduled to open at London's Barbican Centre next summer and was expected to feature Grande alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
A source close to Grande told People that she “cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life.”
The announcement follows the release of Petal, Grande's eighth studio album, which arrived just days before news of her planned break.
British model, author, and body positivity activist Charlotte Howard criticized the imagery in Grande's 'Petal' music video after its July 31 release.
“I think it’s vital we discuss imagery/videos/content like these and the damage they can - and will - have on women and girls. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS NOT NORMAL,” Howard wrote.
She continued: “Over the past few weeks, as images of Ariana’s concert get plastered around online, I obviously see comments from worried fans, but I also see other people convincing others that she looks ‘healthy’, or that she has simply ‘lost puppy fat’. Some even make jokes about it.
“What I see is someone in desperate need of hospitalisation and care, and while I know it’s often impossible to help someone at this stage of anorexia, there HAS to be an immediate intervention.
“... I think it is absolutely appalling, from both a moral and capitalistic standpoint, to have released these videos and an album when this person needs psychiatric help and hospitalisation. The teams involved should be absolutely ashamed. ... I truly, truly hope she gets the help that she so desperately needs.”
During the Wicked: For Good press tour late last year, Grande reshared a 2024 interview with French internet personality Sally Poumbga on her Instagram Story, where she spoke about public commentary surrounding appearance.
“I’ve been a specimen in a petri-dish since I was 17, so I’ve heard it all,” Grande said. “I’ve heard ‘what’s wrong’ with me, and then you fix it, and then it’s wrong for different reasons.
“I think in today’s society there’s a comfortability that we shouldn’t have, at all, commenting on others’ looks, appearance… what they think is going on ‘behind the scenes’ or health or how they present themselves,” she explained. “I think it’s dangerous, for both parties involved.”
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Ariana Grande has announced that she may have to cancel shows on her Sweetener world tour over some health issues.
Grande, who is in the middle of the US leg of her tour, took to Instagram to tell fans that after her Charlottesville show, her head was "splitting", but that she was hoping to recover in time for her next concert in Lexington, Kentucky.
She has since made a statement on her Instagram stories, saying that she may be forced to call off future performances on this tour.
Ariana Grande posts about Mac Miller on Instagram:
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"Hi my loves, so I’m still very sick. I’ve been sick since the last London show. I don’t know how it’s possible but my throat and head are still in so much pain," she wrote.
"I sound okay I’m just in a lot of pain and it’s difficult to breathe during the show. I am seeing my doctor and trying my v best to get better for tomorrow’s show.
The last thing I would ever want to do is cancel a show at this point with so few left. I’m truly cherishing every moment of this… I just really don’t know what’s happening with my body right now and need to figure it out.’
Please take this as a gentle heads up… I don’t want anyone to feel blindsided tomorrow if God forbid I can’t make the show happen. I’m on all the meds. Getting IV drips, doing everything I possibly can to pull through.
Mum and friends are taking good care of me. Just a scary feeling. Love you with all my heart and will keep you posted."
Grande later posted an follow-up, writing "update: still can't swallow or lift my head. Love u. Medicated AF and hoping to wake up better. Seeing doc again in AM and will let you know about show. I'm so sorry again. It's catching up to me I guess. Love u the most [sic]."
We wish you a speedy recovery, Ariana!
The press tour for the hotly anticipated film Wicked: For Good has hit a snag recently.
Ariana Grande has thrown absolutely everything into the Wicked: For Good press tour, treating it almost like an extension of the film itself.
From city to city, she’s shown up fully in character-inspired couture, working closely with stylist Law Roach to curate a run of archival and custom looks that nod to Glinda while still feeling deeply personal and elevated, culminating in that sentimental pink Givenchy farewell gown.
Beyond the fashion, she’s carried a huge share of the global promo load across premieres, specials, and fan events, helping anchor a months-long rollout that stretched from Brazil to Paris, London, Singapore, and New York, all while honoring the emotional weight of the story and her bond with Cynthia Erivo.
Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater. Credit: Don Arnold / Getty Images.
The result is a press tour that doesn’t just sell a movie - it shows how hard she’s worked, on and off screen, to make this era feel magical, intentional, and “for good” in every sense.
On top of all the magic, the Wicked: For Good press tour has clearly been intense and stressful for her too. The schedule alone has been brutal: back-to-back flights all over the world in the space of two weeks, with carpets, fan events and talk shows stacked on top of each other.
She’s done all of that under a microscope of online body commentary and “thinness discourse” that would be exhausting for anyone to ignore.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in Wicked. Credit: David Becker / Getty Images.
On top of the usual performance pressure, she dealt with a frightening incident on the Singapore carpet when a fan breached security and grabbed her.
Even with the glam looks and smiles, it’s obvious this press run has demanded a lot from her mentally, physically, and emotionally.
And sadly, the superstar singer and actor revealed on Instagram recently that she contracted Covid, forcing her to cancel several promotional appearances in New York and beyond. She posted a story with the words “moments before Covid” alongside a photo from a recent appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.
This isn’t the first time the cast has had pandemic trouble. During filming of the first movie both Grande and co‑star Cynthia Erivo tested positive, delaying production - Erivo just days before the big number 'Defying Gravity' and Grande before shooting 'Popular'.
Credit: Instagram.
The positive test has led Grande to miss upcoming press stops, including a slot on The Kelly Clarkson Show. It is the latest hiccup in a press tour that has already been troubled: flight delays prevented her from attending the film’s premiere in Brazil, prompting criticism from fans - criticism she addressed via Instagram.
At the Singapore leg of the tour, a man jumped barricades in an attempt to grab Grande, though security intervened after Erivo stepped in. The man, identified as 26‑year‑old Australian national Johnson Wen, was later convicted as a public nuisance and sentenced to nine days in jail.
Earlier this week, both Grande and Erivo skipped red carpet interviews at the film’s New York premiere after Erivo lost her voice. Grande opted to stay silent in support of her co‑star.
Even with the press tour drama the hype hasn’t faded. The first instalment, Wicked: Part One grossed a massive $758 million worldwide, making it the highest‑grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical ever, per Variety.
The sequel is tracking for an opening weekend north of $150 million to $180 million from 4,000 North American theaters. That would eclipse other big openings this year such as A Minecraft Movie, which took in $162 million, and the live‑action remake of Lilo & Stitch, which made $146 million.
In a review for The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw praised Grande for delivering a nuanced take on Glinda, saying the star “is, as ever, delicate and doll‑like as Glinda, though with less opportunity for comedy”.
He also singled out Erivo for standing out: “A superstar among equals … bringing her black‑belt screen presence to the role of Elphaba, and revealing a new vulnerability and maturity”.
Their acting has helped keep excitement for the movie strong even as publicity hits turbulence.
With blockbuster expectations and strong performances, Wicked: For Good might still claim the title of biggest musical‑movie launch of the year despite last‑minute setbacks for its stars.
The press tour for the hotly anticipated film Wicked: For Good has hit a snag recently.
Ariana Grande has thrown absolutely everything into the Wicked: For Good press tour, treating it almost like an extension of the film itself.
From city to city, she’s shown up fully in character-inspired couture, working closely with stylist Law Roach to curate a run of archival and custom looks that nod to Glinda while still feeling deeply personal and elevated, culminating in that sentimental pink Givenchy farewell gown.
Beyond the fashion, she’s carried a huge share of the global promo load across premieres, specials, and fan events, helping anchor a months-long rollout that stretched from Brazil to Paris, London, Singapore, and New York, all while honoring the emotional weight of the story and her bond with Cynthia Erivo.
Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater. Credit: Don Arnold / Getty
The result is a press tour that doesn’t just sell a movie - it shows how hard she’s worked, on and off screen, to make this era feel magical, intentional, and “for good” in every sense.
On top of all the magic, the Wicked: For Good press tour has clearly been intense and stressful for her too. The schedule alone has been brutal: back-to-back flights all over the world in the space of two weeks, with carpets, fan events and talk shows stacked on top of each other.
She’s done all of that under a microscope of online body commentary and “thinness discourse” that would be exhausting for anyone to ignore.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in Wicked. Credit: David Becker / Getty
On top of the usual performance pressure, she dealt with a frightening incident on the Singapore carpet when a fan breached security and grabbed her.
Even with the glam looks and smiles, it’s obvious this press run has demanded a lot from her mentally, physically, and emotionally.
And sadly, the superstar singer and actor revealed on Instagram recently that she contracted Covid, forcing her to cancel several promotional appearances in New York and beyond. She posted a story with the words “moments before Covid” alongside a photo from a recent appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.
Credit: Instagram
This isn’t the first time the cast has had pandemic trouble. During filming of the first movie both Grande and co‑star Cynthia Erivo tested positive, delaying production - Erivo just days before the big number “Defying Gravity” and Grande before shooting “Popular”.
The positive test has led Grande to miss upcoming press stops, including a slot on The Kelly Clarkson Show. It is the latest hiccup in a press tour that has already been troubled: flight delays prevented her from attending the film’s premiere in Brazil, prompting criticism from fans - criticism she addressed via Instagram.
At the Singapore leg of the tour, a man jumped barricades in an attempt to grab Grande, though security intervened after Erivo stepped in. The man, identified as 26‑year‑old Australian national Johnson Wen, was later convicted as a public nuisance and sentenced to nine days in jail.
Earlier this week, both Grande and Erivo skipped red carpet interviews at the film’s New York premiere after Erivo lost her voice. Grande opted to stay silent in support of her co‑star.
Even with the press tour drama the hype hasn’t faded. The first instalment, Wicked: Part One grossed a massive $758 million worldwide, making it the highest‑grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical ever, per Variety.
The sequel is tracking for an opening weekend north of $150 million to $180 million from 4,000 North American theaters. That would eclipse other big openings this year such as A Minecraft Movie, which took in $162 million, and the live‑action remake of Lilo & Stitch, which made $146 million.
In a review for The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw praised Grande for delivering a nuanced take on Glinda: “is, as ever, delicate and doll‑like as Glinda, though with less opportunity for comedy”.
He also singled out Erivo for standing out: “superstar among equals … bringing her black‑belt screen presence to the role of Elphaba, and revealing a new vulnerability and maturity”.
Their acting has helped keep excitement for the movie strong even as publicity hits turbulence.
With blockbuster expectations and strong performances, Wicked: For Good might still claim the title of biggest musical‑movie launch of the year despite last‑minute setbacks for its stars.
Pop star Ariana Grande released her new music video for the song 'Petal' on Friday, generating widespread discussion across social media platforms regarding her physical appearance.
The audition-themed video features the 33-year-old Grammy winner wearing a retro look heavily influenced by the aesthetic of the movie Grease. In specific scenes, she dances alongside other hopeful actresses while wearing tight black leggings, an off-the-shoulder top, a matching neck scarf, and her signature ponytail styled in tight ringlets.
The visual presentation quickly caught the attention of fans and online observers after Grande shared a snippet on her social media accounts with the caption, “petal ꕤ 。˚ music video out now.”
While many viewers focused on the creative concepts behind the release, a substantial number of comments shifted toward speculation about the singer’s weight and overall well-being. The resulting digital debate has highlighted the ongoing friction between celebrity public platforms and audience commentary.
Following the debut of the video, several fans voiced immediate anxieties regarding Grande’s slighter frame. On various social networks, individuals openly debated whether the pop star appeared healthy. “She is extremely thin and it’s concerning,” remarked one person, while another user chimed in, “I think people are allowed to be concerned for her health.” Another viewer pointed out that Grande’s “bones are literally popping out” and visible in the footage.
The conversation extended to platform comment sections, including YouTube, where users attempted to balance praise for the artistry with direct appeals regarding her health.
Someone on YouTube wrote, “as an Ari fan, the song and video are absolutely incredible concepts and incredibly executed but honestly all I can think about is how I hope she’s okay because she literally looks ill. She needs to get help.”
However, a large portion of Grande's fan base quickly moved to push back against the intense focus on her body, arguing that public evaluation of an individual's weight is inherently invasive and counterproductive.
One defender on X wrote, “If y’all actually cared about her you wouldn’t be publicly making comments about her body,” while another user bluntly urged commenters to “mind your own f**kin business.”
Other supporters insisted that an artist's physical appearance should not be treated as a topic for open forum critique, reminding audiences to appreciate the work itself rather than projecting assumptions.
Another wrote, “Leave her body alone. Ariana doesn’t exist for your commentary. She’s out here meeting fans, dropping Petal, and living her life her weight is not a public discussion. Body-shaming a woman for being thin is still body-shaming. Full stop. Protect her energy and keep the focus where it belongs: the music.”
One person ranted, “CLOCK THEM, ARIANA GRANDE. THEY BETTER STOP COMMENTING ON HER BODY, HER WEIGHT, OR HER LOOKS. It’s weird, it’s unnecessary, and she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation for how she looks.”
This is not the first instance where Grande has been the subject of public scrutiny regarding her health and size. In 2024, the performer addressed the emotional toll of these discussions during an interview where she was asked how she navigates the intense social expectations placed upon women to maintain a flawless appearance.
At the time, she stated, “I think that it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on,” adding that observations about weight are frequently “uncomfortable” and “horrible.”
During that same discussion, Grande emphasized how casual remarks from acquaintances or strangers can cross boundaries, noting, “Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner, and someone’s granny says, ‘Oh my God, you look skinnier! What happened?’ or ‘You look heavier! What happened?’”
She further explained, “I think in today’s society, there is a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all - commenting on others’ looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health or how they present themselves.”
She warned that this widespread habit is “really dangerous.”
Grande later re-shared a clip of the interview on her Instagram Stories, adding the caption, “resharing this from last year ♡ as a loving reminder to all,” while noting that “it’s hard to protect yourself from that noise.”
Ariana Grande has once again addressed the relentless scrutiny over her appearance, emphasizing the harmful nature of unsolicited comments about her body.
In a candid new interview during the Wicked press tour, the 31-year-old singer and actress shared her experiences of being in the public eye since her teenage years.
Fighting back tears, Grande reflected on the constant evaluation she's faced: "I have been a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17, so I have heard it all."
She highlighted the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, noting that even well-intentioned remarks can be damaging.
"Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner and someone's granny says, 'Oh my God, you look skinnier, what happened?' or 'You look heavier, what happened?' That is something that is uncomfortable and horrible no matter where it is happening."
Grande stressed the importance of refraining from commenting on others' appearances, stating, "I think today in society there is a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all commenting on others' looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes, or health, or how they present themselves."
She described this tendency as "really dangerous" for everyone involved.
Earlier this year, Grande took to TikTok to address similar concerns, revealing that her previous appearance, which some considered "healthy," was during a period when she was at her lowest point.
She shared, "I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly... but that, in fact, wasn’t my healthy."
The pop star's openness has sparked widespread support from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Model Bella Hadid echoed Grande's sentiments, urging kindness and understanding, and emphasizing that "you never know what someone is going through."
Grande's message serves as a powerful reminder of the impact words can have and the importance of approaching others with compassion and respect.
As she continues to navigate her career and personal life in the public eye, her advocacy for mental health and self-acceptance remains a beacon for many facing similar challenges.
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