Ariana Grande has withdrawn from the 2027 London production of Sunday in the Park with George, just months before rehearsals were expected to begin. The 33-year-old American singer and actress announced on Sunday, via a statement from her team, that she plans to take a break from public-facing work once her current tour ends, citing what her camp described as 'ongoing public scrutiny' over her appearance.
Grande is currently on her Eternal Sunshine tour, which is due to finish in London on September 1. She had been set to return to the city next year for a summer 2027 run of the Stephen Sondheim musical at the Barbican, opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, but her representative has now confirmed she will no longer take part.
The producers of Sunday in the Park with George have released their own statement confirming the casting change.
'Following this evening's announcement from Ariana Grande's team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George,' the statement reads. '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 statement confirmed the production will still go ahead and open as planned at the Barbican in summer 2027, with casting to be 'announced in due course.' Tickets for the show are due to go on sale in the autumn.
Ticket sales concerns
Questions over whether the production would proceed first surfaced earlier this summer, when ticket sales were unexpectedly halted. There were said to be growing fears that Grande, who had just kicked off the Eternal Sunshine tour in America, was 'oversubscribed,' with eight theatre shows a week considered too demanding for the star.
A source close to Grande's camp told the Daily Mail at the time that 'there's no doubt she's still doing it,' adding: 'The show is still happening but ticket sales were pushed to September due to her touring and album release schedule.'
Ariana steps back after the tour
Grande's spokesperson told PEOPLE on Sunday that she will 'be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour.'
'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,' the spokesperson said. 'This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.'
A source close to the singer said her tour involves a very physical and athletic performance, which she carries out at a healthy and high level.
Scrutiny over her appearance
Grande's appearance has come under scrutiny in recent months, particularly following the release of her music video for Petal. She has publicly maintained that she is healthy, but that has not stopped fans from commenting on how gaunt she appears in the video.
'This is like looking at Karen Carpenter and everyone was like [shrug],' one fan wrote. Another said: 'I am actually so over us normalizing this and acting like this is okay.' A third called it 'shocking and heartbreaking,' while a fourth wrote, 'For the love of God, please eat something.' A fifth commented, 'Her bones are literally popping out.'
Other fans defended the singer, arguing it was inappropriate to comment on her body. 'If y'all actually cared about her you wouldn't be publicly making comments about her body,' one wrote. Another said: 'The irony of all the girls over 200 pounds saying she's "unhealthy." You think being 200 pounds is healthy? Good lord, the jealousy is screaming from you guys!'
Ariana's past comments on the criticism
Grande has pushed back against commentary on her body before. In her 2024 song Yes, And?, from the album Eternal Sunshine, she sang: 'My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise. Don't comment on my body, do not reply. Your business is yours and mine is mine. Why do you care so much whose - I ride? Why?'
In January, Grande told Vogue Japan that taking a career break would probably be 'healthy' for her. 'I'm not used to taking breaks. But I do know that I grew so much from taking space from music while I was filming Wicked... But yeah, these past few years have been pretty non-stop. And by few, I mean 15,' she said.
The Wicked: For Good actress said she is now searching for more balance. 'Balance is the goal for the next 15 years. I don't think they will look like the previous 15 years. I think there will be more balance,' she said.
