Jonathan Bailey has announced he is stepping back from the West End production of "Sunday in the Park with George," following his "Wicked" co-star Ariana Grande's earlier decision to withdraw from the musical. Bailey, 38, confirmed his departure via his Instagram Stories on Tuesday.
"Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering," Bailey wrote. "After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from ‘Sunday in the Park with George.’"
Bailey was set to play the protagonist, painter George Seurat, while Grande, 33, was slated to portray his mistress, Dot. "This brilliant, introspective musical has been a real passion project for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared in its journey with this team," Bailey stated. He added that he looks forward to seeing what the production team and the new actors cast in the roles will create.
The "Bridgerton" star and Grande were scheduled to perform at London's Barbican Centre in the summer of 2027. Their previous collaboration was on the 2024 film adaptation of "Wicked" and its sequel, "Wicked: For Good," where Grande played Glinda and Bailey portrayed Prince Fiyero.
Grande announced her withdrawal from "Sunday in the Park with George" in August, coinciding with her planned hiatus from public-facing work after concluding her "Eternal Sunshine" tour. Her representative stated that Grande seeks to step away from the limelight to focus on her well-being and spend time with loved ones, especially boyfriend Ricky Alvarez. The announcement followed public scrutiny and body-shaming comments Grande reportedly faced after the release of her music video "Petal."
Grande also will not appear in the upcoming Season 13 of "American Horror Story" as scheduled. Bailey's current projects include an untitled film directed by John Lee Hancock and the pre-production of the psychological sports thriller "Pumping Black."