Ariana Grande is ‘taking a step back' from spotlight as reps confirm reason
Ariana Grande is stepping back from public life after wrapping up her Eternal Sunshine tour next month, with her team confirming she'll also no longer appear in the upcoming London revival of Sunday in the Park with George.
The 33-year-old singer had been due to star opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed musical at the Barbican in London in 2027, but has now pulled out as she plans to take a break from public-facing work.
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.
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"This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much."
The representative added: "She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved. She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night."
Grande's final show is scheduled for the start of next month (1 September) in London, bringing her world tour to a close.
As part of her decision to step back, she will no longer appear in Sunday in the Park with George. Empire Street Productions confirmed the production will still go ahead as planned, with Grande's role set to be recast.
In a statement, the company 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."
Grande's health has been the subject of speculation in recent years, with online discussion intensifying following the release of her eighth studio album, Petal, on Friday (31 July).
The album's title track has also sparked conversation thanks to its music video, which sees Grande play a performer repeatedly criticised during auditions.
She's told she's 'not good enough', 'desperate', that she 'should get some work done', before later being told she has 'too much work done'. The character eventually snaps and takes a chainsaw to her critics.
Tyla has reached out to Ariana Grande's representatives for comment.
Topics: Ariana Grande, Celebrity, Music, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle