Ariana Grande is making it clear that her upcoming break was not a reaction to anything and was planned in advance.
During a performance at the United Center in Chicago on Monday night, Grande took a moment to address the audience and speculation around her persona.
“So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” she told her fans at the Chicago stop of the Eternal Sunshine Tour. “It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
Grande noted that “many things can be true at the same time,” adding, “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. 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.”
She continued, “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or elaborate to me than this love that we share. The rest of that sh** is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it. I need to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.”
Grande’s clarification comes after the star dropped out of the West End’s Sunday in the Park with George revival amid “ongoing public scrutiny” over her physical health following the release of the “Petal” music video.
In a statement to Deadline, Grande’s team said, “Ariana 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 lead to endless, ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
Watch part of Ariana Grande’s speech in the video below.
