Ariana Grande (Florida, 33 years old) has finished her marathon tour of 41 shows amid tears and has thanked her fans for what she has described as “one of the most beautiful and extraordinary experiences” of her life. The farewell, amid the applause of about 20,000 attendees at the show, took place this Monday, September 1, at the O2 Arena in London, where she sold out 10 shows of her Eternal Sunshine tour. The goodbye comes after the announcement that she will step away from the public eye due to the “constant social scrutiny” the singer has suffered regarding her physical health, according to her representative on August 2. “I just want to thank you,” Grande said, sitting on a stool on stage. “It has been an extraordinary experience. Thank you for 10 beautiful concerts in London and for 41 incredible concerts on the Eternal Sunshine tour,” she began her speech.
The actress, also known for films like Wicked, could not hold back tears as she addressed the audience. “This has been one of the most beautiful and extraordinary experiences of my life and I just want to express my gratitude without crying completely. But, really, thank you from the bottom of my heart, it has been very special and I will always treasure this experience. I have the best fans in the world and I always have. I love your outfits, I love your faces, I love seeing you, I love connecting with you this way,” she assured. “Thank you for all your effort to make this so special. All your messages, your costumes, your outfits, and your makeup are simply beautiful. I have enjoyed every minute with all of you and I just want to make sure to express how grateful I am. Thank you and I love you very much,” she said goodbye.
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The singer has concluded a tour that began in June with a trio of performances in California, followed by shows in several North American cities, including Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, New York, Boston, Montreal, and Chicago. In that last city, she stated that her stepping away from the public eye was not an “impulsive act” but a well-thought-out decision she had made a long time ago. Additionally, she added that she knew her fans were worried about what some consider extreme thinness, but that speculations about her health could not be more “fucking false.”
Comments about the artist’s physique multiplied during the filming of Wicked in 2023, which led Ariana Grande to open up on her TikTok account: “There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. Personally, the body they are comparing my current body to was the least healthy version of my body. I was taking a lot of antidepressants, drinking alcohol with them, and eating poorly. That was the lowest point of my life and many consider that the moment I was healthiest. But no, that was not healthy,” the artist assured.
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However, comments about her physique have not ceased. When she released her album Petal in July of this year, the comment section filled with fans speculating about a possible eating disorder. Two years earlier, on her album Eternal Sunshine, the singer directly alluded to those comments: My face is sitting, I don’t need no disguise. Don’t comment on my body, do not reply. Your business is yours and mine is mine. Why do you care so much whose – I ride? Why?”
Her withdrawal from the public eye also implies her withdrawal from the musical Sunday in the Park with George that she was going to co-star in with actor Jonathan Bailey, who this Monday also announced he is leaving the production. “Ari is one of my dearest friends and my support for her is unconditional,” the actor said in a statement published on his Instagram stories, where he has 6.5 million followers. “After much reflection, I have decided to withdraw from Sunday in the Park with George,” he confirmed.
