NewzPop star will step away from the public eye after completing her Eternal Sunshine world tour next month Amid renewed public scrutiny of the singer's health, especially on social media, her representative said Grande wanted a "much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances" when her Eternal Sunshine tour wraps in London on Sep 1. Singer was due to reunite with Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in London production of Sunday in the Park With GeorgeAriana Grande has announced plans to take a break from public-facing work after her tour ends due to “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.
She is pulling out of the upcoming London revival of Sunday in the Park With George.The pop singer was due to appear opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s critically acclaimed musical at the Barbican in 2027. Pop star wanted 'much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances' Pop star Ariana Grande had been slated to star in the Stephen Sondheim musical 'Sunday in The Park with George' in the summer of 2027.
(EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: Pop star Ariana Grande has dropped out of what would have been her debut appearance in London's West End, the show's producers said Sunday, as a representative for the singer said she wants to take a "step back" from the public eye.The 33-year-old Grande had been slated to star opposite her "Wicked" castmate Jonathan Bailey in the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sunday in The Park with George" in the summer of 2027 at London's Barbican theater.But amid renewed public scrutiny of the singer's health, especially on social media, her representative said she wanted a "much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances" when her "Eternal Sunshine" tour wraps in London on Sept 1."We can confirm that she has decided to step back from 'Sunday in The Park with George'," producers said in a statement carried on the show's official X account, without providing a reason for Grande's withdrawal."We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support," the statement said, adding that the show would go ahead as planned and casting would be announced "in due course"."We wish her nothing but the best."Grande's representative told People magazine that while the Grammy-winning artist is eager to complete her tour, she wants to take a "step back from visibility", as her many appearances have "led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny".Fans have expressed growing concern for her health, particularly after Friday's release of a music video for "Petal" in which the pint-sized singer appears to have lost significant weight.Grande has said before that body-shaming comments are "really dangerous".She began her career as a teen on Broadway before embarking on a hugely successful pop career.Her star turn as Glinda in the film adaptation of "Wicked" earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.But the massive success of the film and its sequel "Wicked: For Good" meant Grande was doing constant media appearances for the better part of two years.She is set to appear in the comedy "Focker-in-Law" opposite Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, which hits theaters in November. Ariana Grande is to withdraw from public appearances and will no longer star in an upcoming musical production in London when she ends her Eternal Sunshine tour. A representative for the US singer, 33, told People magazine that she “will be taking a step back from visibility” when the tour ends next month after her appearances led to “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.
The company behind a revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, due to play at the Barbican in 2027, confirmed that she would no longer be part of the production and had its “complete understanding and support”. Grande’s physical appearance and health have been a topic of speculation in recent years. This speculation has increased since the release of her latest album, Petal, two days ago and her appearance in promotional material for it.
Her representative stressed to People that Grande looked forward to finishing her tour “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”. They 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.” The Thank U, Next and 7 Rings singer was billed to appear alongside her Wicked co-star, British actor Jonathan Bailey, in the new production of Sondheim’s critically acclaimed 1984 musical.
A representative for Empire Street Productions confirmed to the BBC that the musical would go ahead without Grande. “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,” they said. “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.
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