Ariana Grande has announced she is taking a hiatus from public-facing work and appearances, tearfully bidding farewell to her "Eternal Sunshine" tour at London's O2 Arena. The singer's team cited "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" as the reason for the break, during which Grande will focus on a "healing" journey to cope with PTSD, grief, depression, and anxiety.
Grande, 33, has navigated significant public and personal trauma alongside her successful music and acting career. In 2017, she was diagnosed with PTSD following the suicide bombing at her Manchester concert that killed 22 people and injured over 1,000. The incident left her with physical symptoms, including "really wild dizzy spells" and a feeling of "couldn't breathe," which she described as a new, physical manifestation of her anxiety.
She channeled her experiences into her music, with her album "Sweetener" serving as part of her recovery process. "Having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life," she stated. "They were dark times, and the music brought so much levity and so did the experience."
Less than a month after "Sweetener" was released in August 2018, Grande experienced another personal tragedy with the death of her ex-boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, from an accidental overdose. She responded by writing and recording her fifth album, "Thank U, Next," in just two weeks. "Making this project with so many dear friends quite literally saved my life and gave me the courage to be vulnerable and be honest with people," she said of the album.
Grande's struggles with trauma have resurfaced. Last year, she was reportedly triggered by an incident on the red carpet at the "Wicked" premiere in Singapore, where a fan jumped a barrier and grabbed her. Insiders suggested that such encounters can trigger her PTSD, causing her mind to jump to "the darkest possibilities."
Concerns about Grande's well-being have also been raised regarding her physical appearance. After dyeing her hair blonde for her role as Glinda in "Wicked," fans noted a noticeably thinner frame. Grande addressed these concerns on social media, urging people to be "gentler" about commenting on bodies and explaining that her perceived "healthy" look in the past was during a period of significant personal struggle, including being on antidepressants and eating poorly. "Healthy can look different," she stated, emphasizing that individuals' struggles are often unseen.
Grande's recent schedule has been demanding, encompassing filming for both parts of "Wicked," promoting the films, shooting "Focker-in-Law," releasing two albums, and embarking on the "Eternal Sunshine" tour. This extensive workload has contributed to her decision to take a break. She had previously mentioned taking "baby steps towards healing my relationship to music and touring," acknowledging that these aspects of her career had previously held traumas for her.
The break is intended to allow Grande to recover from her hectic schedule and focus on her ongoing healing process. She has been in therapy since her parents' divorce in childhood, consistently using both therapy and her music as critical tools for managing her mental health battles.