The 61-year-old journalist and TV personality shared a selfie with the 33-year-old “hate that i made you love me” pop star on his Instagram following the news that she will be stepping back from public life after the conclusion of her tour, which she recently addressed in concert.
“I’ve no idea what’s going on with @arianagrande but I do know, after spending a random evening with her in a Beverly Hills restaurant a few years ago, that she’s a genuinely great person,” he began, adding: “intelligent, funny, engaging, and of course, supremely talented.”
“Fame at her pop superstar level can be a very difficult and lonely place,” he continued.
“So, I urge all the trolls currently making her life a misery with this constant chuntering about her appearance to back off and give her the space she needs to sort herself out.”
During Ariana‘s first night back on stage after her reps confirmed that she is going to take a step back from public life amid all of the scrutiny surrounding her appearance, she clarified all of the rumors.
The 41-year-old Happiest Season and Ghosts star has been cast as the female lead in the upcoming HBO Max show that’s based around the character of Jimmy Olsen, according to a new report from Deadline.
She will reportedly play the role of Sandra.
Jimmy Tatro plays Gorilla Grodd, “the hyper-intelligent telepathic ape who has sought to rule both the simian and human worlds, though the Flash has frequently thwarted his plans,” per the report.
The series is set to be a true-crime-style mockumentary series involving the Superman movie’s breakout character Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) of the Daily Planet, and will focus on DC villain Gorilla Grodd (Tatro), who has psychic powers and other skills after his encounter with an alien spaceship.
Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda, the duo behind the acclaimed mockumentary American Vandal, are set to write, executive produce and serve as showrunners.
The 33-year-old singer spoke out during a break between songs during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop on Monday night (August 3) in Chicago, Ill.
This was Ariana‘s first night back on stage after her reps confirmed that she is going to take a step back from public life amid all of the scrutiny surrounding her appearance.
What Ariana Grande’s rep said in previous statement
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” the rep said to People. “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. 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 also spoke to the outlet, adding: “She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved. She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night.”
Ariana has also dropped out of the 2027 production of the musical Sunday in the Park with George, which she was scheduled to star in opposite Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. The source added that Ariana “cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life.”
We have transcribed the full speech that Ariana gave at her show in Chicago. She began by addressing the announcement made by her team and how she wanted to clarify why she made the decision to take a break. Ari says this was a plan she had in mind for a while and it wasn’t brought on by any recent scrutiny.
Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can be a little blown out of proportion so I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much. It means a lot to me to let you know how I’m feeling and not let the world project… I would just like to clear the air about a few things if that’s okay.
So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I have decided, a plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s 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 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–k opposite.
Ariana noted how her tour has been an incredible experience for her.
This is not what that is. I just want to be very, very clear. Multiple things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can 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. So, I just wanted to make that quite plain.
I have one more thing to say! No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or louder to me than this love that we share in this room. Or how it feels to make art with the people that I love and respect. Absolutely nothing will change that or distort that for me.
Ariana had a strong message to close out her speech.
I love you and this is what I will always take with me and carry with me because the rest of that sh-t 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. And so has putting out Petal. It’s been extraordinary and I just needed you to know. That feel good. Thank you very much. I wish that words were enough to articulate just how much I love you all and how much you mean to me.
The 69-year-old mother of the 33-year-old petal pop superstar shared words of encouragement on one of her most recent posts on Instagram following the news that Ariana will be stepping away from public life following the conclusion of the Eternal Sunshine Tour amid concern and scrutiny over her appearance.
Joan Grande Praises Ariana Grande in Sweet Instagram Comment
“You are magnificent…” the comment begins.
“And this video is incredible!! I love it and I love you more!!!” Joan added.
Why Is Ariana Grande Taking a Break?
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” the rep said to People.
“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. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
She will no longer be appearing in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, which was supposed to open in the Summer of 2027. She would have starred with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
When Does Ariana’s Tour End?
Ariana‘s tour is set to conclude after a long stretch of dates at the O2 Arena in London from August 15 to September 1.
Sources close to former couple Ethan Slater and Lilly Jay are shooting down rumors that they’re back together.
The Wicked actor married Lilly in 2018 and they welcomed their son in August 2022. Following news of his relationship with Ariana Grande in 2023, the Tony Award-nominated actor filed for divorce from his wife after four years of marriage.
Shortly after the breakup news, Lilly spoke out about their sudden split. She told Page Six in July 2023, “[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl. My family is just collateral damage.” She said she’s focused on being “a good mom” to their son.
At the time, a source said that Ethan and Lilly had been separated for 2 months before he began “romancing” Ariana. Over a year later, Lillyspoke out about the divorce in an essay published online.
The latest 2026 rumors about Ethan Slater and Lilly Jay
After Ethan‘s split from Ariana earlier this year, there have been rumors that he’s rekindled things with Lilly.
A source close to Lilly told TMZ that there is “absolutely not” any romantic reconciliation and their current relationship is solely about co-parenting.
Sources also said that Ethan “is also not trying to get back with her either.”
The producers of the upcoming London production of Sunday in the Park with George have spoken out following Ariana Grande‘s decision to drop out of the show.
Ariana was set to reunite with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in the summer 2027 production at the Barbican Centre in London. She was set to play the roles of Dot and Marie while Jonathan is playing the title role, George Seurat.
If you don’t know, the Stephen Sondheim musical follows painter Georges Seurat as he meticulously works on his masterpiece, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” while navigating his complicated relationship with his lover Dot. The second act of the musical later shifts to his great-grandson, George, exploring how art, love, and creative legacy echo across generations, with Dot now aged to be elderly.
The production was announced in January 2026 and tickets were supposed to go on sale months ago, with the on-sale date pushed to Autumn 2026.
Ariana Grande will be taking time away from the spotlight following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine Tour, her rep confirms.
The 33-year-old “hate that i made you love me” pop superstar has been the subject of much speculation and criticism regarding her physical appearance in recent months, prompting thinkpieces, viral tweets and comments regarding her mental and physical health.
Why Is Ariana Grande Taking a Break?
“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” the rep said to People.
“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. 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 also spoke to the outlet, adding: “She performs a very physical show, and there is a lot of athleticism involved. She performs healthily and successfully at a very high level night after night.”
Ariana Grande Exits ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ Revival
She will no longer be appearing in the West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, which was supposed to open in the Summer of 2027. She would have starred with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
The source added that Ariana “cannot wait to support the brilliant team bringing this project to life.”
When Does Ariana’s Tour End?
Ariana‘s tour is set to conclude after a long stretch of dates at the O2 Arena in London from August 15 to September 1.
Ariana Grande knows her power over men and she’s singing about it on the song “Never Get Over Me,” which is featured on her brand new album Petal.
This is track 10 on the 12-song album, which was released on July 31.
“I won’t let you forget how I feel / Come slip into something real / And you’ll never get over me / Then somehow every ex (Ex), disappears, oh / The vision is crystal clear / No, you’ll never get over me,” Ariana sings on the chorus.
Ariana notes on the song how she knows “it’s tempting to be in such close proximity to something so sweet,” aka her. In the bridge, she tells a guy that they should play it safe because she doesn’t want to stick him with the burden of not getting over her.
While it’s unclear who the song is about, it’s a fitting song for Ariana and her on-again boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, who just reunited after nearly a decade apart.
The album was seemingly finished before they got back together though, so it’s likely not a reference to him.
On Friday (July 31), the 33-year-old Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated actress released her highly-anticipated new album Petal.
The new album features the track “bad thing (bunny hop)” which many fans believe is about her rekindled romance with Ricky Alvarez.
“Yeah, I like your butterflies / The kind you’ve been making with your hands / Yeah, I can see them finally / Can’t believe they’ve been right there,” Ariana sings. “You know you make a real good boyfriend / In my dreams, and in real life / Meet you by the staircase where we / Fell in love, let’s do it twice.”
Ariana Grande‘s song “Hate That I Made You Love Me” was released back in May as the first single off her album Petal and now it’s time to hear all 12 tracks from the album.
The 33-year-old singer dropped the full album on July 31 and fans will definitely be re-listening to the hit song over and over again along with the new songs.
It’s unclear who the song is about, but Ariana seems to be putting a double meaning into the track.
It could possibly be singing about her ex-husband, Dalton Gomez. Though, on songs on Eternal Sunshine, she sang about how hard she tried to make the relationship work and on this song, she’s doing the opposite, saying she “barely tried.”
Fans also think that Ariana could be referring to the way she’s treated by the general public and the media, and how she hates that she’s made them fall in love with her.
Just know that I will find my way from you Like flowers from a tomb while you decide who you are And I can see right through, like shadows on the moon And it’s all bad news Yeah, I, I, I Hate that I made you love me Sorry if I made me your type Yeah, I, I hate that I made you love me ‘Cause I barely tried
Ariana raved about the song while announcing it to fan. She said, “One of my favorite songs I’ll ever write produced by my favorite collaborators and dearest human beings in the world, the brilliant Ilya, the one and only Max Martin (and me). I simply cannot wait for it to be yours.”
Which new @arianagrande song are you most excited to hear? ? ?? For more of Ariana’s thoughts on her new album, tune in to “petal radio” this Thursday at 5PM PT—only on Apple Music.
“I think they’ll feel familiarity and comfort in it because it just feels like it pulls from many different parts of myself, and yet, at the same time, it is very experimental and different for me.”
“I wrote from a place that I don’t usually, I feel like, which was like an unfiltered rage that I think we all feel sometimes. I usually am too shy to tap into that,” Ariana admitted.
“And I think this time, I kind of just didn’t filter as much as I usually do. I usually do a lot of rewrites and make things a little kinder, a little less… whatever… direct. But this time, I didn’t. And I think they’ll be excited by that. Also, yeah, I just hope they love it,” she concluded. Watch above.
Ariana Grande is debuting the title track of her upcoming album!
The 33-year-old “hate that i made you love me” singer-songwriter just premiered “petal” while performing on the Eternal Sunshine Tour stop at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night (July 28) in Montreal, Canada.
You can watch the full performance video right here.
“It’s such a f–ked situation / Petal in the pavement / Just as long as she keeps getting it right / Heartbreak won’t bite, this is paradise / Such a convenient conflation / This record in rotation / ‘Long as she gets the ovation each night / Heartbreak won’t bite, this is paradis?,” she sings.
“All of my favorite stories end in some kind of catastrophe / But I don’t need someone to save me / ’Cause this music and I will never die.“
“It’s called petal, basically about something that is full of life, growing through the cracks of something cold and hard and challenging,” she said.
“It’s kind of about breaking up with all different kinds of negative attachments, whether it’s my own monsters in my own head, external voices, things that no longer serve me. It was a writing experiment for me to use that as the template, so that I could be talking about one thing, sharing something, and people could use it however they want, and apply it to their own life.”
“It’s a little feral, as well, yeah, it’s definitely from a place that I have been, maybe, like, too shy or polite to tap into before, and this kinda just feels like, ‘f–k it,'” Ariana added.
petal will be released this Friday (July 31). Check out a preview and see the lyrics inside…
