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By Rachael O'Connor
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Ariana Grande has announced she is taking a break from public life after "endless" scrutiny over her appearance and personal life.
The actress and musician first shot to fame as a child star through her work on Nickelodeon's Victorious, and has since become a bona fide A-lister in both the music and acting worlds.
But the Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning star is now taking a step back, even canceling planned shows and appearances, amid the "scrutiny" over her life.
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In recent years, social-media users have repeatedly speculated about Grande’s weight and health, although Grande has not disclosed a current health condition and has urged people not to draw conclusions from her appearance. This is something Grande appeared to allude to in her new music video, "Petal."
Currently on a major world tour which is due to end on September 1, a representative for Grande has confirmed to People that Grande will be taking a break from public appearances when the tour wraps.
"Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour," the representative said.
"She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny."
Newsweek has contacted Grande representatives for comment and to ask whether the break is connected to any health issue.
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Ariana Grande Addresses News that She's Stepping Back
During her Chicago concert on August 3, Grande addressed the recent announcement about her taking a step back, telling the audience it was "not a reactive or impulsive thing," and was a decision she had "quietly made a long time ago."
"It's a decision that was made by a thoughtful and empowered place, and many things can be true at the same time," she said.
Grande said her fans may be worried that "negativity" was "ruining things" for her, but said that it was the "opposite."
"Boundaries can need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes, and this can be and can continue to be the greatest experience of my professional career," she said.
What Has Ariana Grande Said About the Comments on Her Body?
In 2023, Grande spoke via a video on her TikTok account, @arianagrande, addressing social media commentary comparing her appearance with earlier photographs.
She said that she "didn't like" to address things like this, but said that the "body you're comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body."
Grande said that she had previously been on antidepressants and was drinking alcohol and not eating well, and had been "at the lowest point of my life", even though people considered her to look healthy at that time.
"I think we should be gentler, and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies, no matter what," she said.
Public scrutiny over Grande's appearance began in earnest in 2023, ahead of the release of Wicked in 2024.
In 2024, during an interview with SALLY*,* Grande said she has "heard every version" of what people think is "wrong with me"—and "then you fix it, and then it's wrong for different reasons."
She said that it was "dangerous" behavior to comment on whether she looks "skinnier" or "heavier," and that "today's society" has a "comfortability that we shouldn't have at all"—"commenting on others' looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health or how they present themselves."
Grande went on to say that she has a strong support system around her, and that she does not "leave space" for uninvited comments on her body.
Grande's music video for her new single Petal appeared to be a commentary on how she is perceived by the public.
It shows different, fictional versions of herself auditioning for a Hollywood production, while faceless executives write notes on what's wrong with her—calling her "not good enough," "boring on the eyes" and that it "couldn't hurt to lose a few lbs."
The character then applies again, with a changed appearance, but repeatedly receives the same "not good enough" rejection, reinforcing the video's theme that no version of her can satisfy the executives.
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Why Experts Warn Against Body Commentary
Experts agree that commenting on a person's body can be extremely damaging, and that nobody can know the status of another person's health from photographs alone.
Brianna Paruolo, a licensed mental health therapist and owner of On Par Therapy, who previously worked at an eating disorder residential center, told Newsweek that celebrities are already operating under the "microscope" of public opinion, which would "wear any person down."
"Someone’s weight can change for a multitude of reasons," she said, and ongoing commentary about a celebrity's weight can cause harm to people struggling with an eating disorder who may witness it.
As she put it: "Eating disorders or disordered behaviors sometimes thrive on comparison. The disordered internal voice can use public commentary as a validation that the person's body does in fact need to be watched and judged as closely as possible."
Charlotte Markey, clinical health psychology professor at Rutgers University, agreed to Newsweek that "both praise and criticism about weight can be problematic because they keep the focus on the body as something to monitor, evaluate, and discuss."
"For someone who is already vulnerable, this kind of coverage can be triggering even when it is framed as concern," she said. "It encourages body comparison, reinforces the idea that bodies should be publicly evaluated, and may intensify preoccupation with weight, shape, food or exercise."
Markey pointed out that "Grande herself has said that comments about people’s bodies, even those presented as concern or compliments, can be harmful because outsiders do not know what someone is experiencing.
"We absolutely cannot determine someone’s physical or mental health, including whether they have an eating disorder, simply by looking at them."
Paruolo said that she believes social media culture has shifted back towards idealizing smaller bodies.
"The issue is for the disordered internal voice, the goal post is always moving," she said. "Small is never small enough, and that’s when we enter dangerous territory."
Both experts recommended that, if you believe someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, approach them with kindness and compassion without commenting on the person's weight or appearance, to listen rather than try to diagnose them, and to offer practical support such as finding a provider who can offer professional help.
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What Events Has Ariana Grande Canceled?
Ariana Grande will finish the final run of shows before her tour, Eternal Sunshine, completes on September 1.
She had been due to appear in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, in London's Barbican, in 2027, alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
However, the company behind the production confirmed in a statement via London Theatre: "Following this evening’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, Empire Street Productions can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George.
"We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best. The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course."
Grande will appear in the upcoming Meet the Parents sequel, Focker-in-Law, alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, which is due to be released in November of this year. It's unclear whether she will take part in any press surrounding the movie's release.
If you or someone else needs help, contact your doctor or access the free resources provided by the National Eating Disorder Association.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly, Gray R. Thomas and Emma Lee-Sang
Update 8/4/26, 03:00 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include Ariana Grande's comments at her show in Chicago.
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