Ariana Grande addressed ongoing public scrutiny of her appearance during an emotional concert in Chicago on Monday, asserting that "nothing will ever be able to distort my reality." The speech came a day after she announced a hiatus from public work following her current "Eternal Sunshine Tour."
"This is not what that is. I just want to be very, very clear. Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries can need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes," Grande told the crowd at the United Center. She explained that the break was not an impulsive decision but rather a plan made "a long time ago from a thoughtful and empowered place."
The two-time Grammy winner emphasized the strong connection with her fans, stating, "this love that we share in this room" is more real to her than external commentary. She described her tour as "the greatest experience of my professional and creative life" and "the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life."
Earlier on Monday, Grande's mother, Joan Grande, offered public support, praising her daughter's new music video for "Petal." However, the video also drew attention to Grande's visibly thin frame, with her ribcage protruding.
Grande has previously addressed concerns about her weight and appearance. In a 2023 TikTok, she stated that photos from what fans considered her "healthiest" period between 2016 and 2018 were actually taken when she was at her lowest point, on antidepressants and engaging in unhealthy habits. "Healthy can look different," she said at the time.
In a 2024 interview, she told YouTuber Sally that there is a "comfortability that people have commenting on that that I think is really dangerous," adding that she has been under public scrutiny as a "specimen in a petri dish" since she was 16 or 17.
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly had previously accused Grande of being "anorexic" in December. Grande's team confirmed to People that she plans to step back from public-facing work after the tour concludes on September 1 to avoid "endless, ongoing public scrutiny."
Despite stepping back from public appearances, Grande is scheduled to perform in Chicago through Wednesday and Thursday before heading to London for a 10-night residency at The O2 Arena from August 15 to September 1.
Her eighth studio album, "Petal," was released last Friday, receiving a 6.5 out of 10 from Pitchfork and four out of five stars from Rolling Stone.
Grande was also slated to star in a West End production of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Sunday in the Park with George" in summer 2027, but she has decided to withdraw from the role of Dot, with producers wishing her well as they recast.
She is also set to appear as Olivia Jones, the fiancée of Harry Focker (Skyler Gisondo), in the upcoming comedy "Focker-in-Law," scheduled for theatrical release on November 25. The film is the fourth installment in the Fockers franchise and will feature Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, and Owen Wilson, among others.