RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Plenty of people have had plenty to say about Ariana Grande lately. But leave it to her mom, Joan, to say the one thing every child wants to hear from a parent loud and clear, for the whole world to hear: you are loved and you are amazing.
In a comment on Ari’s Instagram post featuring behind-the-scenes pics from the filming of her new, gory “Petal” music video , Joan cut through the noise and the buzz over Ari recently announcing that she will be taking a step back from the public eye after finishing her current tour with a simple, loving mom message.
“You are magnificent… and this video is incredible!! I love it and I love you more!!!” Joan Grande wrote on Monday (Aug. 3) about the blood-splattered visual that takes on society’s expectations and the often cruel, demeaning trials of the entertainment business.
On Sunday (Aug. 2), Grande, 33, announced that she will be taking a break from the public when she finishes her Eternal Sunshine tour on Sept. 1. The time-out also included Grande pulling out of the lead role in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park With George musical, which was slated to open next summer on London’s West End.
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” read a statement from her team shared with People . “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. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
Grande dropped her eighth album, Petal , on Friday (July 31) and the news about her public pause came amid chatter online about her physical appearance and health. She addressed the commentary during Monday’s (Aug. 3) tour stop in Chicago, brushing aside talk that outside criticism had spurred her step-back decision.
“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,” she said in comments captured by Billboard . “So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much. The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided. It’s a plan that I had quietly made a long time ago, and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
She also noted that it was not a negative experience or comment that inspired the decision. “I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f–k opposite,” she said. “Nothing has been ruined. Multiple things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.”
Grande has three more Chicago dates this week before hopping overseas for the 10-show London run that will wrap the tour between Aug. 15 and Sept. 1. She will return to the big screen on Nov. 25 in the fourth installment of the Ben Stiller-Robert De Niro family comedy Focker-in-Law .
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