Ariana Grande to step back from public life after Eternal Sunshine tour, exits West End musical

Ariana Grande will take an extended break from public-facing work after her Eternal Sunshine Tour concludes on September 1, her representative announced on Sunday. The decision comes amid heightened online commentary about the singer's physical appearance, which intensified following the release of her new album Petal and its lead music video on Friday.

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.

Tour and album context

Grande, 33, released her seventh studio album Eternal Sunshine in 2024 and embarked on a three-month tour starting in June. The North American leg wraps this week with three shows in Chicago, and the entire trek ends with a 10-show residency at London's O2 Arena, concluding on September 1. Her eighth album, Petal, arrived at the end of July, and the video for its title track drew renewed fan concern about her noticeably thinner appearance.

A source close to the singer told People that the physical demands of the tour are significant. "She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved," the source said. "She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night."

West End exit

As part of the step back, Grande has withdrawn from the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, where she was set to star opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. Empire Street Productions confirmed the production will open at London's Barbican Centre in summer 2027 as planned, without Grande.

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.

A source noted Grande "cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life." The production, directed by Marianne Elliott, was first reported last December and confirmed in January, with ticket sales held back until after the tour's conclusion.

Upcoming commitments

Grande's break may be complicated by her film schedule. She co-stars with Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in Focker-in-Law, a Meet the Parents sequel hitting theaters on November 25. It is unclear whether she will participate in the film's press tour. Rolling Stone also noted she will not appear in the upcoming season of American Horror Story as previously announced, though that decision was attributed to scheduling conflicts with the Eternal Sunshine Tour rather than the current break.

Grande's recent career has included filming both Wicked films, the first released in 2024, earning her a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role as Glinda, and the sequel Wicked: For Good arriving in 2025, as well as an awards campaign and a globe-trotting press tour with co-star Cynthia Erivo.