A day after announcing she’s taking a step back from public life at the conclusion of her “Eternal Sunshine” tour, “Wicked” star and pop singer Ariana Grande addressed fans during her concert in Chicago on Monday about the news.
“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,” Grande told the crowd during the concert, per Variety. “So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much.”
A representative for Grande told People magazine on Sunday that Grande “will be taking a step back from visibility” after the tour ends, as she faces “ongoing public scrutiny.” It was also announced that she will no longer be appearing in the West End production of “Sunday in the Park with George,” which is scheduled to begin next summer with her “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey.
Grande told fans at the concert that the decision was not “reactive or impulsive.”
“It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place,” she said, according to Variety.
Grande’s appearance and health have been the focus of scrutiny in recent years, but things ramped up following the release of the music video for her new single, “Petals,” over the weekend, People reported.
The video showed Grande’s “always petite frame ridged with shadows of the bones of her chest,” per CNN, leading to debate and criticism online.
“This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us. This outfit is designed to accentuate the thinness for discourse,” actress Jameela Jamil wrote, according to CNN. “Her team are thoroughly irresponsible for not guiding her away from this deeply damaging image for her young fans to see so glamorized.”
The statement from Grande’s representative on Sunday noted that the pop star “looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily.” A source told People about her tour performances, “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 has previously said that she is uncomfortable with public discussion surrounding her body and weight, saying in a 2023 TikTok video, “I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what,” per The Associated Press.
“I want to share this because I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more (expletive) opposite. Honestly, this is not what that is,” Grande told fans on Monday.
“I just want to be very, very clear: Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.”
Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” tour ends in London on Sept. 1.