Ariana Grande to step back from public life following scrutiny of her health

Culture & TrendsAriana Grande to step back from public life following scrutiny of her healthThe singer and actor, who is on tour, will no longer star in the London revival of “Sunday in the Park With George,” which is set to open in summer 2027.Ariana Grande at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 11.Taylor Hill / FilmMagicShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 2, 2026, 11:32 PM EDTBy Joe KottkeAriana Grande plans to step away from the public eye following scrutiny amid ongoing discourse around her health, a representative told People. The representative told People that Grande will take “a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” which will wrap next month. Following the announcement, Empire Street Productions confirmed that Grande has “decided to step back” from the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park With George,” which will open at the Barbican Center in London next summer.Grande was set to star as both Dot and Marie in the musical, opposite her “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey. “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support,” the production company said. “We wish her nothing but the best.”The company said that the production will continue as planned and that new casting will be announced “in due course.”NBC News has reached out to Grande’s representatives for comment.Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour, promoting the 2024 album of the same name, will conclude in London on Sept. 1. “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,” a representative told People. “This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”Grande’s health has been a topic of public discussion for several years. Last year, she...