Pop superstar Ariana Grande has announced that she will be stepping back from public-facing work and appearances after the conclusion of her current tour. Her spokesperson released a statement saying the decision comes after 'endless, ongoing public scrutiny' regarding her body and health.
Three years ago, Grande made a plea in a TikTok video for people to stop commenting on her body, stating that there are 'many different ways to look healthy and beautiful.' However, the speculation has continued, and now she is taking a hiatus to focus on her well-being.
On Friday, Grande released her eighth studio album 'Petal' and a graphic music video for its title track. The song addresses the pressures of fame, and the video depicts Grande as a starlet auditioning for talent scouts, adopting various pop personas, none of which are deemed good enough. The scouts make comments about losing weight and say they miss 'the way you used to be,' after which she kills them with a chainsaw.
Grande has said she wrote the album from a place of 'unfiltered rage.' However, it is her appearance that has drawn the most attention. The top comment on the YouTube video reads: 'It's not about wanting the old Ariana back. It's about wanting her to be healthy.' Fans have shown support with the hashtag #Weloveyouariana, while others criticize the focus on her body.
Music journalist Sophie Williams told BBC Radio 5 Live that 'the constant commentary around her has really, really elevated over the weekend as she's been promoting new music,' and that this may have contributed to her decision.
Grande is scheduled to continue the Eternal Sunshine Tour in Chicago this week before wrapping up at London's O2 Arena on September 1. Her 'step back' also means she will no longer star in Stephen Sondheim's stage musical 'Sunday in the Park with George' at London's Barbican in 2027.
Grande has been in the spotlight for over 15 years. In a 2024 interview, she said: 'I've been doing this in front of the public and been a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17, so I have heard it all.' She has also dealt with PTSD after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and has spoken about her struggles with depression and OCD.
This summer, she launched the Brighter Days Ahead Foundation, a mental health initiative supporting crew and performers on her tour. Williams noted that 'a lot of people perhaps forget that she's been famous for nearly 15 years, and she has a unique story in that she sadly lived out a lot of trauma in the public eye.'
In her 2023 video appeal, Grande urged people to be 'gentler and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies, no matter what.' She also revealed that the period when fans thought she looked healthiest was actually when she was on antidepressants and drinking and eating poorly, making it 'the unhealthiest version of my body.'
Source: www.bbc.co.uk