Ariana Grande Addresses Her Decision to ‘Step Back’ in Mid-Show Speech

During a stop on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, the pop star paused mid-show to speak candidly with the crowd about the reasoning behind her decision.

Ariana Grande is setting the record straight. The "Petal" singer took to the stage on Monday, August 3, at Chicago's United Center to address her fans about her planned hiatus once her Eternal Sunshine Tour wraps next month.

Grande spoke to the massive crowd with a written speech directly to her fans, explaining, "Sometimes, when a story comes out that's not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion. So, I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much."

She added that she only wanted to clear the air. "The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided to plan," Grande said, noting that she made the plan "quietly, a long time ago."

She went on to say that it was not true that "negativity" was "ruining things" for her. She continued, "Multiple things can be true at once. Boundaries, they need to be set. And we need a break sometimes."

"And also, this can be, and will continue to be, the greatest experience of my professional life," she said of touring. "[...] No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me as this love that we share."

As she wrapped up her speech, Grande described her Eternal Sunshine Tour as "one of the most healing, beautiful, correct and special experiences" of her life.

"That felt good," she said before resuming the show. "I wish that words were enough to articulate how much I love you."

Her onstage remarks followed a statement from her representative over the weekend, which read, "Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour."

"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," the rep continued.

"This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much," the statement added.

As part of that decision, Grande has also withdrawn from the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" alongside her "Wicked" costar Jonathan Bailey. The production had been scheduled to open at London's Barbican Centre next summer.

"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 statement continued, adding that the show would go on without her.

"The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course," the producers said. Grande's retreat from the public eye comes as scrutiny surrounding her appearance has intensified in recent weeks.

That discourse escalated further on Friday, July 31, when she released the music video for her song "Petal," in which she appeared to have lost a noticeable amount of weight.