WASHINGTON — Ariana Grande has withdrawn from her planned West End debut in London in 2027, with her representative saying the pop star wants to take a break from public-facing work after months of intense public scrutiny.
Grande, 33, was set to star alongside her “Wicked” castmate Jonathan Bailey in Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Sunday in the Park with George” at the Barbican theater in summer 2027.
The show’s producers announced Sunday that Grande had decided to leave the production but did not provide a reason for her withdrawal.
“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support,” the producers said in a statement posted on the show’s official X account.
They said the production would continue as planned, with new casting to be announced later.
Grande’s representative told People magazine that the singer plans to complete her “Eternal Sunshine” tour, which concludes in London on Sept. 1, before taking what the representative described as a “much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances.”
The representative said Grande wants to “step back from visibility” because her frequent public appearances have resulted in continued scrutiny.
The announcement comes amid renewed attention on Grande’s health and appearance on social media. Some fans expressed concern after the release Friday of the music video for “Petal,” in which viewers commented on the singer’s appearance.
Grande has previously spoken out against body-shaming and said such comments can be harmful.
The planned London production would have marked Grande’s return to theater after she began her career as a teenager on Broadway. She later established a successful pop career and earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Glinda in the film adaptation of “Wicked.”
The success of “Wicked” and its sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” also led to an extended period of promotional appearances for Grande.
She remains set to appear in the comedy “Focker-in-Law,” starring alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. The film is scheduled for release in November.
