Singer and actor Ariana Grande have said her decision to step back from the public eye was planned well in advance and was not a reaction to recent speculation surrounding her health and appearance.
Speaking during a performance in Chicago on Monday, Grande addressed fans following the announcement that she would suspend future public appearances after completing her ongoing tour.
“The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” Grande said in a video later shared on her Instagram Stories. She added: “It is something that I had decided to plan... a long time ago.”
The 33-year-old singer said the decision came from “a thoughtful and empowered place” and emphasized the importance of setting personal boundaries.
“I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but that could not be further from the opposite,” she said. “Boundaries do need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes.”
Grande also thanked her fans for their continued support, saying:“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. I love you.”
Her comments followed an announcement made through her representative to People magazine that she would be “taking a step back from visibility.”
The announcement came after renewed public discussion about Grande’s appearance following the release of the music video for her latest single, Petal, which prompted concern from some fans about her health.
Grande has previously spoken out against public commentary on people’s bodies. In 2013, she addressed rumors about an eating disorder in a Tumblr post, saying she wanted to reassure fans who were concerned about her well-being.
In 2023, she reiterated that message in a TikTok video, urging people to avoid commenting on others’ bodies regardless of their intentions.
“I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what,” she said.
Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour is scheduled to conclude in London on September 1.
