Ariana Grande Says She 'Cannot Wait' For Chicago Shows After Announcing Hiatus Over 'Endless' Scrutiny

Aug 03, 2026 10:15 PM - 2 hours ago 48

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Ariana Grande told fans connected Instagram she “cannot wait” to spot them astatine her show successful Chicago connected Monday night, her first station since announcing she would return a measurement backmost from nationalist appearances aft her circuit ends complete “endless” nationalist scrutiny, which immoderate person speculated is astir her appearance.

Ariana Grande is group to execute 3 shows successful Chicago this week. (Photo by JC Olivera/WWD via Getty Images)

WWD via Getty Images

Key Facts

In a bid of Instagram stories Monday morning, Grande said she “cannot hold to beryllium with” her fans astatine her Chicago concert, saying she loves them while besides posting accusation astir commencement times and merchandise sales.

Grande’s posts were her first since her representatives told People connected Sunday she will return a “step backmost from visibility” aft her circuit concludes adjacent month, citing “endless, ongoing nationalist scrutiny.”

Grande’s Chicago concerts, scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, will beryllium her first performances and nationalist appearances since she announced her upcoming hiatus.

Her representatives’ connection did not specify what scrutiny Grande has faced, though immoderate person speculated the connection refers to online chat astir Grande’s evident weight loss, which has sparked interest among fans, peculiarly aft the merchandise of her caller euphony video for her opus “Petal.”

Grande’s Monday greeting posts did not reside her volition to measurement backmost from nationalist life.

Also connected Monday morning, Grande reposted Instagram stories made by fans who took videos astatine her concerts and expressed their emotion for the singer.

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Grande’s representatives told People connected Sunday the singer-actress “looks guardant to finishing the circuit and ending it connected a precocious note, some healthily and happily, and past taking a much-deserved break from public-facing activity and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing nationalist scrutiny.” The typical said the “tour has been a beautiful acquisition for her,” adding Grande “loves her fans and has loved each infinitesimal of this circuit truthful much.” After People reported Grande’s statement, the charismatic X relationship for the London revival of “Sunday successful the Park With George," successful which Grande was group to star, confirmed she dropped retired of the production. “We cognize this cannot person been an easy decision, and she makes it pinch our complete knowing and support,” the post says.

Why Is Grande Stepping Back From Visibility?

Grande’s representatives did not connection much specifics astir the nationalist scrutiny she faces, nor did “Sunday successful the Park With George” connection a logic for her departure. But fans and commentators online person speculated the scrutiny Grande referred to has to do pinch her quality and evident weight loss, which has fueled rampant online statement successful caller years. Over the weekend, chat astir Grande’s quality reignited connected societal media aft she released the euphony video for “Petal.” The apical remark connected the “Petal” video, liked much than 62,000 times connected YouTube, says: “It’s not astir wanting the aged Ariana back. It’s astir wanting her to beryllium healthy.” Some celebrities besides expressed concern. Multiple tabloid outlets reported character Jameela Jamil called Grande’s quality “dangerous” successful an Instagram remark that appears to beryllium deleted, calling retired her squad for allegedly not intervening. In a post connected X, blimpish commentator Meghan McCain called Grande’s quality “very, VERY sad and she intelligibly needs thief immediately.” Grande has antecedently addressed critics of her quality and weight, saying successful a 2023 TikTok post “we should beryllium gentler and little comfortable commenting connected people’s bodies nary matter what.” Grande said her assemblage from years anterior was the “unhealthiest type of my body,” noting she was connected antidepressants and drinking intoxicant astatine the time. Other aspects of Grande’s individual life person been predominant subjects of chat successful tabloids and connected societal media, including her narration to and breakup from “Wicked” character Ethan Slater, arsenic good arsenic speculation that her speaking sound has changed.

key background

Grande’s determination to measurement backmost from visibility comes days aft she released a caller album, “Petal,” which critics person said appears to reside her dissatisfaction pinch fame and scrutiny. Some critics person suggested the album’s lead single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” whitethorn really beryllium astir obsessive fans alternatively than a lover. Billboard’s professional said the medium is “pretty overmuch a manicured mediate digit aimed straight astatine the public,” while Pitchfork noted the medium contains lines like, “All that sh-t talk keeps maine well-fed.”