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Ariana Grande isn’t letting the internet tell her story. In an emotional speech midway through her Chicago concert on August 3, she reclaimed the narrative about her health
The 33-year-old singer started off the conversation with a simple, “Can we get a little real tonight?” The video, circulated on TikTok by a fan, showed Grande looking confident about her message. She shared that her decision to step back from the West End production of Sunday in the Park With George in 2027 “was not a reactive or impulsive thing.”
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She believes the message had been “blown out of proportion” and her four-minute speech felt like an “empowering” moment after all the speculation about her body. Grande denied that the online “negativity [was] ruining things for” her and told the audience that the Eternal SunshineTourhas been “one of the most healing, beautiful, correct, and special experiences” of her life
“No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me … as this love that we share,” the “Thank U, Next” singer continued
After wrapping up her speech, she admitted, “That felt good. I wish that words were enough to articulate how much I love you.”
Her fans responded with supportive screams and cheers in the arena — no matter what Grande might be going through, they were with her every step of the way
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The weight loss scrutiny began around the time Grande was filming Wicked and Wicked: For Good back-to-back in the U.K. in 2022. Both she and co-star Cynthia Erivo were the subjects of speculation throughout the entire press tour for the films. The noise escalated for Grande throughout her tour and in the wake of the recent release of her “Petal” music video
Her spokesperson addressed the online concerns with a statement on August 2, sharing, “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.”
There also seemed to be mixed messages in Grande’s inner circle about what the pause in her career is about right now. One Page Sixer insider claimed Grande is resting because she’s been impacted by the “nonstop public scrutiny.”
Grande has been going nonstop since shooting Wicked and has barely taken a break, in addition to her recent split from Ethan Slater. The next big event on her calendar is the press tour for Focker-in-Law in the fall in anticipation of its November 25 release
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But for now, Grande made one thing crystal clear: she’s choosing to define this chapter on her own terms
Before you go, clickherefor more celebrities who’ve spoken out about being body-shamed
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