Ariana Grande has marked the conclusion of the North American leg of her "Eternal Sunshine" tour with an emotional message to her fans, announcing a forthcoming break from the spotlight. Grande shared her sentiments via Instagram on Thursday, stating her overwhelming gratitude for the experience.
"i love you … i cannot believe that this concludes the north american leg of the eternal sunshine tour. i am overwhelmed with love and the deepest gratitude," Grande wrote. "thank you endlessly for the most special, beautiful, joyful and deeply fulfilling few months … i will cherish every moment of this time with you all & these memories forever. thank you, chicago … london, i cannot wait to see you soon. i love you all more than ever."
Grande's representative confirmed that the singer will be taking a break from public-facing work after her tour concludes. The final stop of the tour is scheduled for September 1 in London. The representative stated that Grande looks forward to finishing the tour on a positive note and then taking a "much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny."
The pop star is also exiting the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” where she was slated to star opposite Jonathan Bailey. The musical was scheduled to open next summer at London’s Barbican Centre.
This decision follows a period of increased public attention on Grande's appearance, particularly after the release of her music video for "Petal" last week. Fans expressed concerns over her perceived weight loss on social media, with some comments noting visible thinness and others defending the singer and urging for privacy.
Sources close to Grande have indicated that she has been overworked and that the constant public scrutiny, especially regarding her weight, has taken a toll. An insider told Page Six that the singer "has been nonstop and it’s taking a toll. She’s never handled the public scrutiny well and constant chatter about her weight [doesn’t help]." Another source suggested that the relentless attention surrounding her personal life and appearance, rather than her workload, was the primary driver for her decision to step back.
During her time away from the spotlight, Grande plans to spend time with loved ones, including her boyfriend Ricky Alvarez and her family. A source indicated that she is looking forward to having more uninterrupted time with Alvarez, as her schedule has limited their opportunities to spend time together recently.
