Ariana Grande steps back from the spotlight amid weight criticism
Wicked fans hoping for a reunion between Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey will be disappointed: the star has decided to take a break from the public eye and withdraw from the London production of Sunday in the Park With George. "Ariana decided to take a step back," the production team stated, "We know this could not have been an easy decision, and it is received with full understanding and support."
Ariana Grande is accustomed to having every move examined under a microscope; the 33-year-old star has lived in the public eye since her teenage years on the show Victorious. However, in recent years, public discourse has shifted away from her career and toward her thin frame—a trend of criticism that intensified following her role in Wicked. During her recent concert tour, the focus on her weight reached a new peak, and it appears Grande has reached her limit.
Following her representative's announcement on Sunday that the star plans to take a break from public life once her tour concludes, it has been confirmed that she is withdrawing from the upcoming London revival of the musical Sunday in the Park With George, where she was set to reunite with her Wicked co-star, Jonathan Bailey.
"Ariana will take a step back after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour," her representative told PEOPLE. "She looks forward to finishing the tour on a high note, while healthy and happy, and then taking a well-deserved break from work and public exposure, which brought with it incessant and ongoing criticism. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and loved every moment of it."
Despite her departure, the production confirmed that the revival of Stephen Sondheim's 1984 classic will proceed as planned, with a new casting process for her role scheduled ahead of the 2027 opening.
"Following the announcement from Ariana Grande's team, we can confirm that she has decided to take a step back from Sunday in the Park with George," a representative for the production told the BBC. "We know this could not have been an easy decision, and it is received with full understanding and support on our part. We wish her only the best."
Grande's health and appearance have been the subject of speculation for years, a focus that has only sharpened during the promotion of Wicked and her current tour. In the music video for her single Petal, Grande portrays an actress forced to endure contradictory feedback during auditions—being told she is not enough, only to be criticized for doing too much. The video concludes with the character pointing a chainsaw at her critics.
The Eternal Sunshine tour launched in June in Oakland, California, and has since traveled through cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York. Grande is expected to conclude the American leg of the tour this week in Chicago before heading to London. This marks her first tour after several years of focusing on film and music projects. The final show is scheduled for September 1 in London.
