Ariana Grande kicked off the first of a 10-show residency at London's O2 Arena before taking an indefinite break from public life in September. The 33-year-old former Disney child star sent the crowd wild as she took the stage for the opening night of her concert run.
The residency marks the start of her final major public appearance before stepping out of the spotlight. Her pull-back from visibility is forecast to last for a year.
Grande shocked fans two weeks ago when she announced on stage at a Chicago concert of her Eternal Sunshine tour that she was stepping back to "set boundaries." She added that "human beings need a break sometimes."
Despite concern over her frame, the singer looked calm and confident as she opened the show with Yes, And? Surrounded by dancers, Grande performed The Boy Is Mine in a black lace corset dress, custom thigh-high Christian Louboutin boots, a cat mask, and a whip, before returning in a custom pink ballerina outfit by Alexander McQueen.
Concert Production and Security Measures
The concert runs for around two hours and is divided into five acts. Its stage design is centered around a destroyed house from the promotional visuals for her Eternal Sunshine album, which becomes overgrown with flowers as the show progresses.
Filming notices at the venue entrance stated that the show would be professionally filmed amid rumors of a special concert film release. Ticketholders were allowed to carry only one transparent bag made of clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC, with no color tints, prints, patterns, or logos, and were encouraged to bring only essential items.
A high police presence and extra security checks at The O2 Arena resulted in long queues and wait times. Fans attended dressed in Grande-themed outfits, with two concertgoers wearing her signature bunny ears.
The security measures were a consequence of her 2017 tour, when an Islamist terrorist bomber of Libyan descent, Salman Abedi, targeted Manchester Arena. The suicide bombing killed 22 audience members, many of them children, injured more than 1,000 others, and left Grande "broken."
A year after the attack, Grande said that "people are permanently affected by this stuff. It changes everything," while noting she was coping with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The singer, who is worth around £200million, organized the One Love Manchester benefit concert for victims and their families.
Cancelled Projects and Tour Commitments
Grande has maintained a non-stop schedule for the past five years, filming both parts of Wicked, promoting the films, shooting Focker-in-Law, and releasing two albums, Eternal Sunshine and Petal, before starting the tour.
Her hiatus has led her team to cancel her commitments in November for the press tour of Focker-in-Law, the latest installment in the Meet the Parents franchise. Grande stars in the film opposite Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Owen Wilson.
The singer was also forced to cancel her role in an upcoming Barbican production of Stephen Sondheim's 1984 musical Sunday In The Park with George, about 19th-century French painter Georges Seurat and his mistress Dot. Her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey will still fulfill his obligations as Seurat, though her casting had been a major coup for producers and the London venue.
Grande had repeated in interviews for over a decade that playing Glinda the "good witch" was her greatest ambition, calling it her "dream role" when she landed the part in 2021. The Wicked films became the most successful adaptations of Broadway musicals ever, grossing more than $750million [£550million] at the box office and receiving 10 Oscar nominations, including a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Grande.
However, the role took an emotional and physical toll on the then-28-year-old star. Intensive rehearsal schedules, live singing, and performing stunts alongside British co-star Cynthia Erivo were all-consuming.
Music Video Reaction and Physical Health
Conversations regarding Grande's weight began while promoting Wicked, as fans expressed concern over her altered appearance. In April 2023, she addressed body speculation on TikTok, saying, "I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies," and adding it was hard "to be paid this close attention to [sic]."
Her hiatus comes amid online outcry over her music video for Petal, which featured her in a strikingly thin figure. The video ends with a feminist scene in which she attacks rude male music executives with a chainsaw and ends up drenched in blood. Although it racked up millions of views, public reaction focused almost entirely on her appearance.
British actress and activist Jameela Jamil, an eating disorder survivor, claimed online that Grande was "possibly dying in front of us" and questioned releasing such a "damaging image for young fans." Jamil deleted the remark but maintained, "My point stands. This is deeply irresponsible."
Two days after the video's release, her spokesman told People magazine that the singer would "be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour," adding she looks forward to "taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny." In January, Grande told Vogue Japan that taking a break would be healthy after 15 non-stop years, as she seeks more "balance."
Personal Life and Relationships
Grande previously referred to 2018 as an "unhealthy" time for her. In September of that year, her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, a rapper who entered the music scene at age 15, died from an accidental drug overdose at age 26.
Grande, who met Miller at age 19 and dated him for nearly two years before splitting four months prior to his death, wrote online, "I can't believe you're not here any more... You were my dearest friend." She later stated her grief was "pretty all-consuming."
She subsequently had a five-month relationship with actor and comedian Pete Davidson, a former boyfriend of Kim Kardashian. The couple received matching tattoos, a $93,000 engagement ring, and bought a pet pig named Piggie Smalls before calling off their engagement.
In 2021, Grande married luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez, with their divorce finalized three years later. She also had a near three-year relationship with actor Ethan Slater while filming Wicked before splitting this summer, after Slater reportedly left his ex-wife and newborn baby after meeting Grande.
Grande is currently thought to be back in a relationship with Ricky Alvarez, whom she previously dated in 2015. Despite her turbulent love life, her career has continued to succeed, evidenced by her sellout Eternal Sunshine Tour.
