Ariana Grande has pushed back against online criticism regarding her weight, asserting that "nothing will ever be able to distort my reality." The singer addressed the "negativity" during a four-minute speech at her "Eternal Sunshine" show in Chicago on Monday, telling the audience that such "noises" cannot overshadow the "love that we share in this room" or the experience of creating art with loved ones.
Grande, who has faced public scrutiny over her appearance following the release of her "Petal" music video, emphasized that her decision to step away from the spotlight after her current tour concludes is not impulsive. She stated that it was a planned decision made from an "empowered place," adding, "many things can be true at the same time."
"Human beings can need a break sometimes," the Grammy Award winner explained, underscoring the importance of setting boundaries. She described her "Eternal Sunshine" tour, which is set to wrap up on September 1, as "the greatest experience of my professional and creative life." Grande concluded her remarks by telling the crowd, "I love you and this is what I will always take with me and carry with me because the rest of that sh-t is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it."
Grande's representative confirmed over the weekend that the singer will be "taking a step back from visibility" once the tour ends. The spokesperson noted that this break is intended to allow her to finish the tour "healthily and happily" before stepping away from public-facing work. A source close to the singer clarified that the decision stems from her being "overworked" and the toll that constant public scrutiny, particularly about her weight, has taken.
This planned retreat follows Grande's withdrawal from the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" and her exit from "American Horror Story" Season 13, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts with her tour.