Ariana Grande, 33. [SNS]
Ariana Grande, 33. [SNS]

Ariana Grande, 33, has decided to step away from public life after a wave of online abuse targeting her appearance, and has also withdrawn from an upcoming West End musical.

According to the BBC and AFP, Grande's spokesperson told People magazine that the singer had chosen "to step back from the public eye," citing "the relentless scrutiny" she had faced. Grande will take a break following her final "Eternal Sunshine" tour date in London on Sept. 1.

The decision came just days after Grande released her eighth studio album, "Petal," on July 31, marking her return as a recording artist after a two-year hiatus — only for social media to erupt with unfounded speculation about her health, including rumors of an eating disorder.

Grande appeared noticeably thinner in the music video for her new single, prompting a flood of malicious comments speculating about the reasons for her weight loss.

She has long faced speculation about her body and health whenever she appears slimmer in public, a pattern that has repeated itself over recent years. While some rallied to her defense and condemned the body-shaming, Grande ultimately announced she was stepping back just days into her comeback.

As a result, Grande will also exit the West End production of "Sunday in the Park with George," in which she had been set to appear in London.

The musical's producers announced her departure in a statement released Sunday, saying they extended "our understanding and support" to her. The show will proceed as planned without Grande, and producers are casting a replacement.

Grande has long warned that comments about her body are "extremely dangerous."

Cover art for Ariana Grande's album "Petal." [AP]
Cover art for Ariana Grande's album "Petal." [AP]

Grande made her entertainment debut on Broadway as a teenager in 2008 and went on to become a globally celebrated actor and pop star, cementing her box-office power most recently as a driving force behind the hit film "Wicked."

But her back-to-back appearances in "Wicked" and its sequel have kept her under near-constant public scrutiny, AFP noted.


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