On September 1, Ariana Grande (33) will take the stage in London one last time for her Eternal Sunshine tour. After that, things will likely be quiet around the singer for a while. Her spokesperson confirmed to the US magazine People that Grande will "step back from the public eye somewhat" after the tour ends.
"She is looking forward to ending the tour successfully and happily, and then taking a well-deserved break from public appearances that have led to constant public scrutiny", the spokesperson is further quoted as saying. And: "This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has enjoyed every minute of this tour."
Debates about her body precede the break
The retreat doesn't come out of nowhere. Grande's appearance and health condition have been the subject of public discussion for years, with the musician and actress recently facing sharp criticism over her weight. The debate was further fueled after the music video for her single Petal was released. The album of the same name came out on July 31.
The 33-year-old has repeatedly objected publicly to strangers evaluating her body. Already in her song Yes, And? from her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine, she made it unmistakably clear that no one should comment on her figure and everyone should mind their own business.
The theater project in London has fallen through
The decision also has consequences for London's theater scene. Ariana Grande will not appear in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George. The premiere was scheduled for next summer at the Barbican Centre, with her Wicked colleague Jonathan Bailey (38) set to perform alongside her.
In a statement from Empire Street Productions, it said: "Following today's announcement from Ariana Grande's team, we can confirm that she has decided to withdraw from 'Sunday in the Park with George.' We know this was not an easy decision, and she makes it with our full understanding and support." They wished her all the best, and the production will be celebrated as planned in summer 2027. The new cast will be announced "in due course".
The final concerts will take place in Chicago and London
The Eternal Sunshine tour began in June in Oakland, California, followed by performances across the USA, including in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York City. This week, Grande will wrap up her US dates in Chicago before a series of shows in London. For Ariana Grande, the tour marked a return to the stage after several years in which she had focused on film and music projects, including her role as Glinda in the Wicked film adaptations.
Fans can still see the 33-year-old on the big screen during her break: at the end of November, the film Meine Frau, unsere Schwiegertochter und ich will be released, in which she stars alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro.
