Singer Ariana Grande has moved to reassure her fanbase following the announcement that she will be stepping back from public visibility. Addressing the crowd during a performance at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, the 33-year-old artist clarified that her recent decision was carefully considered.
“The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” Grande stated in a fan-captured video later shared to her Instagram Stories. She emphasized that the choice to reduce her public presence was something she had planned a long time ago, noting that the decision was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.
The singer’s remarks were met with a rapturous reception from the Chicago audience. Grande addressed concerns that negativity might be influencing her career path, stating, “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… opposite.” She added that setting boundaries is a necessary part of life, noting that “human beings can need a break sometimes.”
The announcement regarding her withdrawal from the public eye was initially delivered by her representative in an exclusive statement to People magazine. The news arrived amid a period of intense public speculation regarding the singer’s health and physical appearance, which intensified following the release of the music video for her latest single, “Petal.” In the video, viewers noted her petite frame, leading to renewed discourse surrounding her body.
Grande has faced similar scrutiny throughout her career. In 2013, at age 19, she addressed rumors regarding an “eating disorder” via a Tumblr post, explaining that she felt compelled to speak out because fans were expressing genuine worry. She has consistently maintained that such public commentary is unwelcome and often harmful.
In a 2023 video posted to her verified TikTok account, the singer reiterated her stance on body image. “I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what,” she said. She urged the public to refrain from unsolicited commentary, adding, “If you think you’re saying something good or well-intentioned, whatever it is, healthy, unhealthy, big, small, this, that, sexy, nonsense… we just should really work towards not doing that as much.”
Closing her address to the Chicago crowd, Grande reaffirmed her connection to her supporters. “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality, or be more real to me or louder to me than this love that we share,” she said, concluding with a heartfelt, “I love you.” Grande’s current Eternal Sunshine Tour is scheduled to conclude in London on September 1. The report also notes that in 2013, when she was 19, Grande wrote on Tumblr that while she didn’t “usually like to address rumors,” she “felt like since some of you are worrying about me that I should take the time to write you all a little note t.
Comments