Fate of Ariana Grande’s London shows revealed as she steps back from public life – and huge project she will not promote

POP star Ariana Grande is to vanish from public life to shut down speculation over her health — but insists her ten London shows will go ahead first. The US singer — diagnosed with PTSD from the terror attack at her Manchester concert in 2017 — has pulled out of a West End play. Ariana Grande is set to vanish from public life amid fears for her health Credit: Getty But Ariana, who has been performing across North America since June on her 41-date Eternal Sunshine Tour, insists her ten London shows will go ahead Credit: Instagram Ticketmaster UK And she will not appear on the red carpet with Robert De Niro and her other co-stars to promote their new movie Focker-in-Law. But an insider said ahead of her sold-out O2 shows: “This tour is her last gift for fans. She wants to finish this tour.” The three-time Grammy winner’s decision to step back comes amid speculation and comments over her appearance, with one online activist claiming the singer was “possibly dying right in front of us”. In an angry riposte, Ariana’s representatives laid the blame for her departure from public life at the door of “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” Ariana has been performing across North America since June on her 41-date Eternal Sunshine Tour, which concludes after her London shows between August 15 and September 1 In a statement, her reps said: “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. “This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.” Ariana has cancelled her role in a West End revival of Sunday in The Park With George next summer. The stage show at the Barbican in London, will now be re-cast. She was due to appear in the musical alongside her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. Those behind the production said: “We can confirm she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George. “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support.” Insiders told The Sun she would not appear on any red carpets for the fourth instalment in the Fockers film series later this year. Sources also said new album Petal, on course to become her sixth consecutive No1 record on Friday, was inspired by her “love-hate relationship with the public and their toxicity” when it comes to scrutinising her appearance. On new song Like I Do, Ariana appears to hark back to 2023 when fans put photographs of her online and made comparisons about the size of her body. At the time, she begged people to stop speculating about her weight and said: “The body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body. The superstar, above with Cynthia Erivo, has made the decision to step back amid speculation over her appearance Credit: Getty She will not appear on the red carpet to promote her new movie, Focker-in-Law “I was on a lot of anti-depressants and drinking on them and eating poorly. [I was] at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way…” And on Like I Do, she sings: “I’m making cents off of your nonsense, all that s**t talk keeps me well-fed. “Through thick and thin, you’re so locked in. You hate to love me.” Ariana’s determination to push back continues on Petal, for which the music video led to fans calling upon her to seek professional help because of her weight. On the track she is heard singing: “This is not a cry for help. A couple million for my thoughts, I’ve got plenty. But I am not the victim. B***h, I’m practically drowning in my blessings.” Those close to Ariana said she was sick of being judged online. A source told The Sun: “Social media is like an uncontrollable fire when it comes to scrutinising Ariana and what she looks like. “She has no control over that but it feels toxic. “By stepping away from the public eye, she can carve out a life she wants to live without being judged by people who don’t know anything about her.” Ariana has been vocal about the affect comments about her body have had on her. In 2024, she became emotional during the press tour for Hollywood blockbuster Wicked — in which she appeared as Glinda the Good Witch — as she discussed how it felt when people dissected her body image. Ariana said she felt like she was “a specimen in a petri dish,” and that it had been that way since she was a teenager finding fame on American TV. She added: “I have heard every form of what is wrong with me. And then you fix it and then it is wrong for different reasons. The US singer has also cancelled her role in an upcoming West End play next summer Credit: PA Ariana was diagnosed with PTSD after the terror attack at her Manchester concert in 2017 Credit: Getty “It is hard to protect yourself from that noise. I think that it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on. “From what you are wearing, to your body, to your face, to your everything — there is a comfortability that people have commenting on that, that I think is really dangerous. I think it is dangerous for all parties involved.” Those close to her said the effect on her mental health had been amplified by the Manchester terror attack in 2017, which led to her being diagnosed with PTSD. She had just left the stage when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a home-made device at the concert and killed 22 people, many of them children. The following year, Ariana’s ex-partner, Mac Miller, died of a drug overdose. Speaking in 2019, two years after the terror attack, she said: “It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. But it’s a real thing. “I feel like I shouldn’t even be talking about my own experience — like I shouldn’t even say anything. I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry.” The effects of that fateful day have not subsided, insiders explained, pointing to her last live tour, Sweetener, in 2019, where she suffered from panic attacks while on the road. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a home-made device at the star’s concert, killing 22 people, many of them children Credit: London News Pictures New album Petal, which is on course to become her sixth consecutive No1 record on Friday, was inspired by her ‘love-hate relationship with the public and their toxicity’ Credit: AP The stress saw her cancelling meet and greets with fans during the run of shows in Europe. Before the statement about her removing herself from the spotlight, Ariana again used her music to offer a string of clues. For album track Oh Well her lyrics included: “This is the beginning of the end. I feel it, just don’t know what to say.” And on Freak she continues: “Someday, all the seeds will open, all of the life I’ve been denied of will bloom all around, unfrozen “Wake me when all this s*t is over.” Ariana was last night due to play the first of her final three US shows in Chicago. She shared a video online of her performing on her Eternal Sunshine tour with the caption: “See you tonight Chicago.” A source told The Sun: “She is performing to rave reviews each night and is really enjoying herself, no matter what people are writing on TikTok and Instagram. “Her decision to step away is her own and she’s doing it at the right time for her.” Those close to her said she wanted to bow out in London on a high. The insider added: “Being repeatedly dragged down for her appearance is not what she wants, or needs. “This tour is her last gift for fans. Once it’s over, she will be totally stepping away.”