Ariana Grande explains why she's stepping away from the spotlight

Pop star Ariana Grande told fans during a concert in Chicago on Monday, August 3, that she plans to take a break from public life after her Eternal Sunshine tour ends. Grande, 33, read from a prepared note on stage at the United Center, saying the decision was not sudden or impulsive. She explained that she had quietly made the plan a long time ago. Her announcement came one day after her team shared the news with the public.

Grande told the crowd that no outside opinions would change how she feels. She also called the tour 'one of the most healing, beautiful, correct and special experiences' of her life. Reading her note out loud to fans, she said, 'felt good.' Her words clearly moved many people in the audience that night.

Her representative, speaking to People magazine, said Grande would be 'taking a step back from visibility' after her tour wraps up in London on September 1. The rep said she hopes to finish the tour in a healthy and happy way. They also noted that ongoing public attention and commentary had made life difficult for the singer. Grande's team said she deserves a real rest from public-facing work and appearances.

The break means Grande will no longer take part in a West End theater production in London. She had been set to star in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican Centre next summer. Her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey was also set to appear in the show. The Barbican Theatre said it wishes her 'nothing but the best.'

It is also believed that Grande will not promote the upcoming comedy film Focker-In-Law, a sequel in the Meet the Parents series due out in November. The movie was filmed last year. Grande's team has not made an official statement about the film. Her focus, for now, appears to be on finishing her tour strong.

Grande first became famous as a teenager playing Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon shows Victorious and Sam & Cat. She went on to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, with hit songs like 'Break Free' and 'thank u, next.' In 2025, she received an Oscar nomination for her role as Glinda in the movie version of the musical Wicked. Her eighth studio album, Petal, was released just days before her announcement.

The release of Petal brought a fresh wave of public comments about Grande's body and health — something she has dealt with for years. Late last year, during the press tour for Wicked: For Good, she asked fans and others to think carefully before commenting on someone's appearance. She reshared a 2024 interview in which she spoke honestly about what it feels like to be judged constantly. 'I've been a specimen in a petri-dish since I was 17, so I've heard it all,' she said.

In that interview, Grande said that commenting on how people look has become too common and too casual in today's world. She called it 'dangerous, for both parties involved.' Her words sparked a wide conversation about body image and online criticism. Many fans and supporters praised her for speaking up on the issue.