Jonathan Bailey attended the premiere of the film "Ink" at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, marking his first public appearance since announcing his withdrawal from the West End musical "Sunday In The Park With George." His departure from the musical came as a show of "unwavering support" for his friend, singer Ariana Grande.
Bailey arrived at the festival in a black suit for the premiere of "Ink," a biographical drama directed by Danny Boyle. The film chronicles Rupert Murdoch's 1969 acquisition of The Sun newspaper and his appointment of Larry Lamb as editor. Guy Pearce stars as Murdoch, with Jack O'Connell portraying Lamb, who was tasked with transforming the publication into a tabloid that could rival the Daily Mirror. Claire Foy plays Jules Davies, a reporter on the nascent team.
The film is based on a play of the same name by Peter Moffat, which premiered in London in 2017 and later transferred to Broadway. "Ink" is competing for the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival.
Bailey's decision to leave "Sunday In The Park With George" was announced Tuesday. He shared a statement on Instagram explaining his support for Grande, who had also withdrawn from the production. "Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering," Bailey wrote. He noted his close collaboration with the musical's director, Marianne Elliott, but ultimately decided to step back from the role. He expressed his gratitude for the experience and wished the cast and crew well.
Producers for "Sunday In The Park With George" confirmed Bailey's withdrawal following Grande's announcement. They stated that work on the production continues, with casting discussions underway and the creative team reshaping the show. Further casting and production details are expected to be announced.
Grande had previously announced her decision to step back from public-facing work after completing her "Eternal Sunshine" tour. Her representative stated that she planned to take a "much-deserved break" from public appearances, citing ongoing scrutiny. Grande had clarified that her hiatus was planned well in advance and was not a reaction to negativity, emphasizing that boundaries are necessary and that human beings sometimes need a break.
Bailey and Grande, who are friends and co-stars in the upcoming film "Wicked," were slated to perform opposite each other in the West End production. Both actors will be recast as the production proceeds.