Ariana Grande ends tour, steps back

Ariana Grande completed her Eternal Sunshine tour on Tuesday night in London. She is now stepping back from all public-facing appearances.

Her final show at the O2 Arena was an emotional event. Grande was occasionally close to tears, most notably during the performance of 'One Last Time'. The song holds particular significance as an anthem for survivors of the 2017 Manchester terror attack. "London, I'm going to need you to help me on this one," she told the audience.

The hiatus announcement

Last month, Grande announced a break from public life. This followed months of speculation about her health and appearance, which intensified after the release of her 'Petal' music video. A source close to the singer told People magazine that she "performs a very physical show... healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night."

Grande addressed the concerns directly from the stage in Chicago. She stated her decision came from a "thoughtful, empowered place" and had been planned "a long time ago." "Boundaries need to be set," she said. "Human beings do need a break sometimes."

Her publicist attributed the step back to "endless, ongoing public scrutiny." The hiatus includes her withdrawal from a production of Stephen Sondheim's 'Sunday in the Park with George' at London's Barbican next summer. Her 'Wicked' co-star Jonathan Bailey also pulled out of that production.

The final London shows

Grande performed a 10-show residency at London's O2 Arena. Approximately 200,000 people attended the London dates alone. Fans traveled from China, Australia, and across Europe for what many saw as a final chance to see her perform live.

On stage, Grande showed no signs of poor health beyond a foot injury. This required her to swap her trademark stilettos for knee-high platform boots. She nonetheless sprang across the stage in sync with her dancers. The NME's reviewer marveled at her physical prowess, noting she skipped across the stage "in skyscraper heels that most drag performers would baulk at."

Her voice faltered briefly during the song 'Nowhere, Nobody'. She quickly regained her composure. Towards the end of the final show, she thanked her fans. "This has been one of the most beautiful extraordinary experiences of my life," Grande said.

Critical reception

Reviews for the London shows were overwhelmingly positive. Major publications praised the production and Grande's performance.

Fan reactions to the hiatus

Fans at the final show expressed mixed emotions. They supported her decision but were saddened by her departure. Rachid, a London fan, said he was "devastated" by her withdrawal. "That's why I really, really wanted to come to the last show because I was like, 'What if she never comes back?'" he said.

Others empathized with her need for a break. "I'm not gonna lie, I'd do the same thing," joked Manchester fan Nadine. "Like, I made my money, got on stage, sang my heart out... I'd bugger off, too!"

Lukas, who traveled from France, supported her choice. "She's said goodbye and now she's gonna rest for her safety," he said. Polish fan Alejandro Grande added, "It's sad that she has to make a decision for herself just to reclaim her power and her energy."

Grande ended the final show as she always does, attached to a harness and ascending into the rafters of the O2 Arena before disappearing from view.