Ariana Grande stops concert to give 4-minute speech on public hiatus: 'Boundaries need to be set'

Ariana Grande delivered a four-minute speech to more than 20,000 fans in Chicago on Monday night amid reports she’s stepping away from the public eye due to online scrutiny. During the first of three sold-out shows at Chicago’s United Center, Grande read a prepared statement from her phone, explaining her decision to take a break. She emphasized that her announcement was deliberate and not reactive, stating boundaries need to be set and that she needed a break. Grande continued, saying her professional and creative life would continue to be extraordinary despite public scrutiny. She also mentioned dropping out of Stephen Sondheim’s West End revival of 'Sunday in the Park With George' and taking a break from public-facing work. The announcement followed the release of her eighth studio album, 'Petal,' and a music video where she addressed critics with a chainsaw. Fans and critics reacted to the album and video, with Mikael Wood from The Times describing it as an 'unfiltered rage' against exes, a prying public, and herself for allowing harm to occur. Grande’s representative confirmed her hiatus, stating it was a much-deserved break from ongoing public scrutiny.