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Star steps back from public life - 17th August 2026

Hollywood actor and music icon Ariana Grande's announced that she'll be "stepping back from visibility". The Wicked star won't be making any further public appearances after her present concert tour concludes in September.

In recent months, there's been speculation over Grande's wellbeing on social media. This rose dramatically following the release of the music video for her latest single, Petal.

The video, featuring an extremely thin-looking Grande, was flagged by Instagram users who were concerned by her appearance. In response, Instagram attached a community note to the post for the video, which directed users with eating disorders towards free support.

However, Grande's clarified that her decision was not made in response to the events on Instagram. The day after her announcement, she paused her concert in Chicago to address the crowd.

Grande stated her move was "something I had decided to plan quietly, a long time ago." She explained, "Boundaries need to be set. Human beings do need a break sometimes."

Her latest song, Petal, focuses on self-worth and the toxic nature of public criticism. The video itself features Grande as a young actor facing critics in the Hollywood film industry. Their constant attacks produce an extreme response, which some consider reflects Grande's own frustrations.

The star's continued working through several challenging moments in her life. As crowds left her concert in Manchester during her 2017 world tour, a bomb exploded which killed 22 and injured over 1,000. The next year, her former boyfriend died shortly after their break-up, and in 2024 she divorced her husband, Dalton Gomez.

Grande's fans have responded to the news with a mix of support and concern for her wellbeing, posting with the hashtag #WeLoveYouAriana. After cancelling her role in a musical next year, Grande's final public appearance will be in London on 1st September at the final night of her tour.