Ariana Grande addressed her upcoming exit from the spotlight during her concert in Chicago Monday night, telling fans she’s long planned to take a break at the wrap of her “Eternal Sunshine” tour.

The 33-year-old pop star paused her performance at United Center to emphasize her hiatus “was not a reactive or impulsive thing.” She added that she made the plan “quietly, a long time ago” from “a thoughtful and empowered place.”

“I want to share this because I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the f— opposite,” Grande continued. “Honestly, this is not what that is. And I just want to be very, very clear: Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.”

Grande concluded: “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me as this love that we share,” adding “that felt good” before continuing onto her performance

Grande has been facing scrutiny over her appearance, her thin frame in particular, since the start of her “Wicked: For Good” press tour in 2025. But it reached a fever pitch last week upon the release of her latest music video for “Petal,” off her new album of the same name. Days later, her rep confirmed to People that she “will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes” her tour.

The rep added that Grande 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.” The Oscar nominee has also pulled out of the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” which would have been a reunion with her “Wicked” costar Jonathan Bailey.

The production was scheduled to open at London’s Barbican Centre next summer.

The Eternal Sunshine Tour, meanwhile, continues with two more shows in Chicago this week, followed by 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena through Sept. 1. She’s also starring in “Focker-in-Law” with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, which is set to hit theaters on Nov. 25.

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