Ariana Grande pulls out of musical for break from ‘endless’ scrutiny

Ariana Grande, the 33-year-old American singer-songwriter, has announced that she will be stepping away from public appearances and her upcoming musical production in London. Grande's representative revealed to People magazine that the decision was due to "endless, ongoing public scrutiny" that has resulted from her frequent public appearances.

The news came after Grande's decision to withdraw from her Eternal Sunshine tour, which was set to conclude next month. The company behind the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, scheduled to play at the Barbican in 2027, confirmed that Grande would no longer be part of the production, expressing understanding and support.

The withdrawal of Grande from the musical follows the release of her latest album, Petal, and her appearance in promotional material for it, which has sparked intense speculation about her physical appearance and health. Grande's representative stated that she was excited to finish her tour "on a high note, both healthily and happily" and take a well-deserved break from public-facing work.

The musical was set to feature Grande alongside British actor Jonathan Bailey, who plays her co-star in the Wicked production. Empire Street Productions, the company behind the musical, confirmed that the show would proceed as planned without Grande.