Ariana Grande has told fans "see you tonight Chicago" ahead of a concert in the city, days after announcing she plans to step back from the spotlight once her tour ends.
The 33-year-old singer said on Sunday that after her Eternal Sunshine Tour wraps in London on September 1, she will take a break from public life. The announcement followed weeks of concern from fans over her noticeably thin appearance.
Grande shared a clip from a previous show alongside the message confirming her Chicago date. Fans responded with messages of support in the comments, with one writing, "We love you Ariana !!!! Go slay like you always do queen," and another adding, "so proud of you!! keep your head up honey."
Another fan wrote that they were relieved to hear from her and hoped everyone attending her remaining shows would pour love into her performances so she could feel it. A further comment read, "you create so much love for us let us give some of it back this time @arianagrande we love you. always."
Chicago dates and O2 residency
Grande is set to perform three nights in Chicago before heading to the United Kingdom, where she has a 10-night residency at The O2 in London running from August 15 to September 1.
The Eternal Sunshine Tour supports her album of the same name and has taken her across multiple countries this year.
Stepping back from West End role
Grande has also quit her upcoming West End role in Sunday in the Park with George, in which she had been set to star opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
Her spokesperson told PEOPLE that Grande would be taking a step back from visibility after completing the Eternal Sunshine Tour. The spokesperson said she looked forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, before taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which had led to ongoing public scrutiny. They added that the tour had been a beautiful experience for her and that she loved her fans and had loved every minute of it.
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.
Empire Street Productions, the producers of Sunday in the Park with George, confirmed in a statement that Grande had decided to step back from the play following the announcement from her team. The statement said the decision could not have been easy, and that she made it with the production's complete understanding and support. The producers wished her the best and said the show would open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, with casting to be announced in due course.
Scrutiny over her appearance
Grande's appearance has come under scrutiny in recent months, particularly following the release of her music video for the song Petal. She has publicly insisted she is healthy, but that has not stopped fans from voicing concern about her thin frame.
Broadcaster and actress Jameela Jamil wrote online that the singer was possibly dying in front of everyone, and that her outfit appeared designed to accentuate her thinness for discourse. Jamil said Grande's team were being thoroughly irresponsible for not guiding her away from an image she called deeply damaging for young fans to see glamorised.
After some people criticised Jamil's comments, she later defended herself in a further post, saying she prays that Grande recovers.
