Ariana Grande marked the end of the North American leg of her “Eternal Sunshine” tour with an emotional message to fans. Now, she prepares to step back from the spotlight.
“I love you … I cannot believe that this concludes the North American leg of the Eternal Sunshine tour. I am overwhelmed with love and the deepest gratitude,” the pop star wrote on Instagram Thursday.
“Thank you endlessly for the most special, beautiful, joyful and deeply fulfilling few months … I will cherish every moment of this time with you all & these memories forever. Thank you, Chicago … London, I cannot wait to see you soon. I love you all more than ever.”
Grande’s sentimental message comes about a week after her representative confirmed her plans. Grande will take a break from public-facing work following the conclusion of her tour.
Ariana Grande’s Break From the Spotlight
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” her representative told People.
The tour is scheduled to conclude Sept. 1 in London.
“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily. Then she will take a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances. This break is needed, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” the representative continued.
The representative added that the tour has been a meaningful experience for Grande.
“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much,” the representative said, according to Page Six.
Grande is also stepping away from a planned West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” according to Page Six. She was set to star alongside her “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey at London’s Barbican Centre next summer.
Why Ariana Is Stepping Back
Grande’s decision to take a break comes amid increased public attention surrounding her appearance and personal life.
Concern about her weight resurfaced following the release of the music video for her song “Petal” last week. This prompted some fans to express concern online. Meanwhile, others defended Grande and pushed back against speculation about her health.
An insider later informed Page Six that Grande is “overworked.”
“She’s been nonstop, and it’s taking a toll,” the source said. Additionally, Grande has struggled with the level of public scrutiny surrounding her.
Another source offered a different perspective, saying Grande has been in a positive place while on tour. The source also emphasized that the decision to step back was more connected to the “nonstop public scrutiny” than her workload.
“She’s been in a really good place on tour. She loves doing it, and it’s been positive,” the second source said.
Ariana Grande’s Plans During Her Break
While Grande is preparing to step away from the public eye, she is reportedly looking forward to spending more time with the people closest to her.
Page Six reported that the singer plans to spend time with family and friends, including boyfriend Ricky Alvarez.
“She’ll be spending a lot of time with her family, friends and Ricky,” a source told the outlet.
The source added that Grande and Alvarez have had limited time together in recent months because of her touring schedule and other commitments.
“Between touring, rehearsals and her other work commitments, she and Ricky haven’t been able to spend as much time together as she would have liked over the past few months. As a result, she’s looking forward to having more uninterrupted time with him.”
For now, Grande still has one major stop left on the “Eternal Sunshine” tour. After wrapping the North American leg in Chicago, the singer is preparing to head to London for the tour’s final performances. Then, she will begin her planned break.
