Pitchfork—an online music magazine—rated Grande’s new album “Eternal Sunshine” a 7.2/10. Pitchfork readers were slightly more generous, giving the album a score of 7.9. Despite the album’s success, the star has received continuous criticism.
Fans of Grande have shown concern over the artist’s health and body. One of the top YouTube comments on her “Petal” music video said, “It’s not about wanting the old Ariana back. It’s about wanting her to be healthy,” in response to a scene that shows male talent scouts looking at a new and improved star that Grande plays and saying that they miss “the way you used to be.”
According to BBC, another fan on X, formerly Twitter, said Grande “has become so thin that people are genuinely concerned.”
Grande describes the discourse as commonplace. “I’ve been doing this in front of the public and been a specimen in a petri dish since I was 16 or 17, so I have heard it all…I’ve heard every version of it, of what’s wrong with me. And then you fix it, and then it’s wrong for different reasons. But that’s everything from even just the simplest thing—your appearance, you know?”
Though Grande has said she has “heard it all,” music journalist Sophie Williams relayed to BBC Radio 5 Live that the “constant commentary around her has really, really elevated over the weekend as she’s been promoting new music. So, we’re led to think in part that [commentary] has brought us to this decision.”
Backing up what Williams said about her decision coming from negative public commentary, her representative told People Magazine, “She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
On stage at the Chicago United Center, Grande told fans that she made the decision to take a break from public work and appearances “a long time ago” and that her choice was not a “reactive or impulsive thing.”
So far, Grande has pulled out of Stephen Sondheim’s London 2027 production of Sunday in the Park with George.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Empire Street Productions—the production company of Sunday in the Park with George—said, “We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best. The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”
