Ariana Grande has decided to withdraw from an upcoming stage musical set to be performed in London and plans to take a break from the public eye. This decision comes in response to the intense scrutiny she has been facing.

Grande was scheduled to star alongside Jonathan Bailey, her co-star from “Wicked,” in a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George” at the Barbican Centre in 2027. Empire Street Productions announced Grande’s withdrawal on Sunday, stating, “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.” The production is still set to open next summer, with new casting to be revealed at a later time.

A representative for the 33-year-old singer told People magazine that Grande plans to “take a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour.” She wants to end the tour on a positive note, both in health and happiness, and then take a well-deserved break from public engagements, which have led to significant public scrutiny. While no specifics were provided, Grande’s appearance and health have been topics of public discussion recently.

This scrutiny increased following the release of Grande’s “Petal” music video, where she portrays an aspiring performer facing repeated rejection from male judges. Grande has addressed the attention on her appearance before. In her 2024 song “Yes, And?” she sings, “My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise / Don’t comment on my body, do not reply / Your business is yours, and mine is mine.”

In 2023, facing numerous comments about her appearance, Grande shared a video on TikTok reminding followers, “you never know what someone is going through.” The video went viral, garnering millions of views and likes. Grande emphasized, “Even if you are coming from a loving place and a caring place, that person probably is working on it or has a support system that they are working on it with, so be gentle with each other and with yourselves.”

Grande’s current tour is scheduled to conclude in London on September 1. She rose to fame as a child performer on Nickelodeon and released her debut album, “Yours Truly,” in 2013. Grande has won three Grammy Awards and was nominated for a supporting actress Academy Award for the film adaptation of the musical “Wicked.”