Ariana Grande ends tour and steps back from public life

Ariana Grande has concluded her Eternal Sunshine tour and announced an indefinite hiatus from public life, telling fans she might not tour again for a "long, long" time.

The singer's final performance on Tuesday night was an emotional one, with Grande visibly moved, particularly during "One Last Time." This song holds special significance as an anthem for survivors of the 2017 Manchester terror attack. Addressing the London audience, she said, "London, I'm going to need you to help me on this one," and knelt to be closer to the crowd throughout the song.

Last month, Grande revealed her intention to step back from all public-facing engagements, following months of intense public scrutiny regarding her health and appearance. This withdrawal includes her participation in a production of Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" at London's Barbican next summer, where she was slated to appear alongside her "Wicked" co-star, Jonathan Bailey, who also withdrew from the production on Tuesday.

Despite the circumstances, Grande displayed no signs of fragility or ill health on stage in London, apart from a foot injury that necessitated a switch from her signature stilettos to knee-high platform boots. She nonetheless moved across the stage in sync with her dancers, often on tip-toe to compensate for the reduced height. Her composure briefly faltered during "Nowhere, Nobody," as she sang the line: "Hard to believe in a perfect ending." However, this moment was fleeting, and Grande maintained her magnetic stage presence.

Towards the end of the show, Grande expressed her gratitude to her fans in an emotional message. "This has been one of the most beautiful extraordinary experiences of my life and I just wanted to express my gratitude without sobbing completely," she shared. "I'll cherish this experience always. I have the best fans in the entire world and I always have. Thank you for all of your effort and continuing to make this so special. I have loved every minute of this with you all and I just wanted to make sure I express how grateful I am."

Grande's hiatus announcement last month came shortly after the release of her latest single, "Petal," whose music video prompted some fans to voice concerns about her weight. One user on X commented that the 33-year-old had "become so thin that people are genuinely concerned." Two days later, Grande's publicist confirmed her "step back from visibility" due to "endless, ongoing public scrutiny." A source close to the singer told People magazine that she "performs a very physical show... healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night." Grande herself reassured fans the following night, stating her decision was made from a "thoughtful, empowered place" and had been planned "a long time ago." On stage in Chicago, she added, "I heard my fans were worried negativity was ruining things for me but... that could not be more than the opposite. Boundaries need to be set, human beings do need a break sometimes."

The Eternal Sunshine tour marked Grande's return to the stage after a seven-year absence. Even before her hiatus announcement, Grande had described the tour, which began in the US in June, as "one last hurrah," expressing a desire to pursue more acting roles after her Oscar-nominated performance in "Wicked." Consequently, her 10-show residency at London's O2 Arena was seen by many fans as their last opportunity to see her perform live. Fans traveled from across the globe, including China, Australia, and various European cities, with 200,000 people attending the London dates alone. On the second night, Grande surprised the audience by bringing out her "Wicked" co-star Cynthia Erivo for a rendition of their movie duet, "For Good."

Reviews for the tour were overwhelmingly positive. Rolling Stone magazine declared, "There's no question about it - Ariana Grande is one of the best singers of her generation," noting "there were no signs" of the singer "struggling or not wanting to be there." The Telegraph lauded the show as "flawless," praising its "Hollywood-indebted" staging and Grande's "genuine affection for Britain." The BBC's review highlighted quieter songs like "Imperfect For You," describing them as "delicate and gorgeous and strangely intimate in a room of 20,000 people." However, Guardian writer Kate Solomon admitted to being "gripped by genuine concern." In contrast, the NME's Nick Levine was impressed by Grande's physical prowess, marveling, "Throughout the show, she skips across the stage in skyscraper heels that most drag performers would baulk at."

On the final night, however, Grande's foot injury, which she described as a "deep cut," prevented her from wearing her usual heels. She assured fans on Instagram that the injury was not serious and that she was "on the mend," vowing to complete her final shows "even if I am a few inches shorter than usual." She delivered on this promise with a broad smile, powerfully hitting the high notes of "Dangerous Woman" and sprinting across the stage during "Break Free," among other energetic highlights. The show concluded as it always does, with Grande ascending into the O2 rafters on a harness and disappearing, leaving fans to ponder when, if ever, they would see her perform again.