Ariana Grande withdraws from London musical, seeks to ‘step again’

Pop star Ariana Grande has dropped out of what would have been her debut look in London’s West End, the present’s producers stated Sunday (Aug 2), as a consultant for the singer stated she desires to take a “step back” from the general public eye.

The 33-year-old Grande had been slated to star reverse her Wicked castmate Jonathan Bailey within the Stephen Sondheim musical Sunday In The Park With George in the summertime of 2027 at London’s Barbican theatre. 

But amid renewed public scrutiny of the singer’s well being, particularly on social media, her consultant stated she needed a “much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances” when her Eternal Sunshine tour wraps in London on Sep 1.

“We can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday In The Park With George,” producers stated in an announcement carried on the present’s official X account, with out offering a purpose for Grande’s withdrawal.

“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support,” the assertion stated, including that the present would go forward as deliberate and casting could be introduced “in due course”.

“We wish her nothing but the best.”

Grande’s consultant instructed People journal that whereas the Grammy-winning artist is raring to finish her tour, she desires to take a “step back from visibility,” as her many appearances have “led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny”.

Fans have expressed rising concern for her well being, notably after Friday’s launch of a music video for Petal by which the pint-sized singer seems to have misplaced important weight. 

Grande has stated earlier than that body-shaming feedback are “really dangerous”.

She started her profession as a teen on Broadway earlier than embarking on a massively profitable pop profession.

Her star flip as Glinda within the movie adaptation of Wicked earned her an Oscar nomination for finest supporting actress. 

But the large success of the movie and its sequel Wicked: For Good meant Grande was doing fixed media appearances for the higher a part of two years.

She is about to look within the comedy Focker-in-Law reverse Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, which hits theatres in November.