Ariana Grande is stepping out of the spotlight for an extended break after she wraps her Eternal Sunshine Tour, a rep for the actress and pop star told People. The rep’s statement cited “ongoing public scrutiny” as one of the reasons for the pause.
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” Grande’s rep 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. 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 reported that Grande has dropped out of Stephen Sondheim’s West End revival of “Sunday in the Park With George.” Grande was set to star alongside Jonathan Bailey in the production.
The Eternal Sunshine Tour wraps on Sept. 1, meaning Grande is gunning for a break starting in the early fall. However, Grande is soon starring in “Focker-in-Law” alongside Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. That film is positioned to be a holiday hit for Universal and arrives in theaters the day before Thanksgiving. It will most likely require a splashy promotional tour and many public appearances from Grande and her co-stars.
Universal did not immediately comment on whether Grande’s plan will interfere with the “Focker-in-Law” press tour.
The “public scrutiny” mentioned by the rep could point to several things. In recent years, as Grande has risen to super stardom, her physical appearance has been put under the microscope in certain online circles. Her “Petal” music video, which was released on Friday, reignited fan concerns about her weight loss.
Grande, a three-time Grammy winner and former child star of Nickelodeon favorites like “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat,” reached Hollywood A-list status with the 2024 release of the “Wicked” movie. Grande played Glinda, the good, opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. The film was a cultural phenomenon, earning Academy Award nominations for best picture and best supporting actress for Grande. It also won two Oscars for best costume design and best production design. Grande and Erivo went on a globe-trotting press tour for the ages to promote the movie musical. The sequel “Wicked: For Good” was likewise a hit, but didn’t require as much promotional legwork from its stars.
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From Variety US