RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Topline Ariana Grande told fans on Instagram she “cannot wait” to see them at her show in Chicago on Monday night, her first post since announcing she would take a step back from public appearances after her tour ends over “endless” public scrutiny, which some have speculated is about her appearance.
In a series of Instagram stories Monday morning, Grande said she “cannot wait to be with” her fans at her Chicago concert, saying she loves them while also posting information about start times and merchandise sales.
Grande’s posts were her first since her representatives told People on Sunday she will take a “step back from visibility” after her tour concludes next month, citing “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
Grande’s Chicago concerts, scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, will be her first performances and public appearances since she announced her upcoming hiatus.
Her representatives’ statement did not specify what scrutiny Grande has faced, though some have speculated the statement refers to online discussion about Grande’s apparent weight loss, which has sparked concern among fans, particularly after the release of her new music video for her song “Petal.”
Grande’s Monday morning posts did not address her intention to step back from public life.
Also on Monday morning, Grande reposted Instagram stories made by fans who took videos at her concerts and expressed their love for the singer.
Grande’s representatives told People on Sunday the singer-actress “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.” The representative said the “tour has been a beautiful experience for her,” adding Grande “loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.” After People reported Grande’s statement, the official X account for the London revival of “Sunday in the Park With George," in which Grande was set to star, confirmed she dropped out of the production. “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support,” the post says.
Grande’s representatives did not offer more specifics about the public scrutiny she faces, nor did “Sunday in the Park With George” offer a reason for her departure. But fans and commentators online have speculated the scrutiny Grande referred to has to do with her appearance and apparent weight loss, which has fueled rampant online debate in recent years. Over the weekend, discussion about Grande’s appearance reignited on social media after she released the music video for “Petal.” The top comment on the “Petal” video, liked more than 62,000 times on YouTube , says: “It’s not about wanting the old Ariana back. It’s about wanting her to be healthy.” Some celebrities also expressed concern. Multiple tabloid outlets reported actress Jameela Jamil called Grande’s appearance “dangerous” in an Instagram comment that appears to be deleted, calling out her team for allegedly not intervening. In a post on X, conservative commentator Meghan McCain called Grande’s appearance “very, VERY sad and she clearly needs help immediately.” Grande has previously addressed critics of her appearance and weight, saying in a 2023 TikTok post “we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies no matter what.” Grande said her body from years prior was the “unhealthiest version of my body,” noting she was on antidepressants and drinking alcohol at the time. Other aspects of Grande’s personal life have been frequent subjects of discussion in tabloids and on social media, including her relationship to and breakup from “Wicked” actor Ethan Slater, as well as speculation that her speaking voice has changed.
Grande’s decision to step back from visibility comes days after she released a new album, “Petal,” which critics have said appears to address her dissatisfaction with fame and scrutiny. Some critics have suggested the album’s lead single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” may actually be about obsessive fans rather than a lover. Billboard’s critic said the album is “pretty much a manicured middle finger aimed directly at the public,” while Pitchfork noted the album contains lines like, “All that sh-t talk keeps me well-fed.”
Ariana Grande to Step Away From Public Life After Tour Ends (New York Times)
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