Ariana Grande’s decision to issue a statement to People announcing she would “step away from the public eye” after her tour came as a surprise to some members of Sunday in the Park With George, which Grande also withdrew from.
Team members of the London musical were only given hours to prepare their own statement for the People piece, which appeared Sunday afternoon, and social media, according to a source familiar with the matter, and were surprised at the speed and her decision to issue the statement at that time.
The London production is still pressing forward and working to recast Grande’s leading role of Dot, in order to meet the September on-sale ticket deadline. Jonathan Bailey stars as George in the musical revival, which has been slated for June 2027 at the Barbican Theatre.
While the source noted the suddenness of Grande’s announcement, another person close to the matter pushed back on that narrative.
“Production was made aware awhile ago about her stepping back as was Jonathan and his team,” the person said. “They were all supportive.”
Bailey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“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 production said in its initial statement, which was published on social media shortly after Grande’s revelation. “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 production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”
The ticket on-sale dates for Sunday in the Park With George had already been pushed back twice, having originally been scheduled for May 2026, then delayed to summer 2026 and now to autumn, so that tickets could be released once Grande’s The Eternal Sunshine Tour finished, according to the source. This decision was unrelated to Grande’s withdrawal from the show.
Grande addressed her decision to step away from the public eye at her concert in Chicago Monday, saying that it was “not a reactive or impulsive thing,” and that “human beings can need a break sometimes.”
“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion, so I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much,” Grande said per videos of the concert. “The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It was something that I have decided. A plan that I had quietly made a long time ago. It was a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time.
“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 far opposite,” Grande continued. “This is not what that is. And I just want to be very, very clear, multiple things can be true at the same time: boundaries 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.”
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