Ariana Grande Halts Activities Days After Return With 8th Album Following Backlash Over ‘Appearance’ Hate Comments

Hollywood star Ariana Grande, 33, has endured appearance-related hate comments that surfaced right after her comeback with her eighth album, and has ultimately announced a halt to her activities.

According to the BBC in the UK and other outlets, Grande’s representative said through the U.S. entertainment magazine People, “(I) decided to take a step back from the public’s attention,” adding that “the nonstop gaze” is the reason for her activity pause.

In line with that, Grande will take a break for the time being after finishing the stage of the “Eternal Sunshine” tour in London, England, on Sept. 1. She is also being dropped immediately from the musical “Sunday in the Park with George,” which was scheduled in the West End of London. The musical’s production company said on the 2nd, “She has our understanding and support,” making the withdrawal official.

The decision came just days after Grande released her eighth album, “Petal,” on the 31st of last month and returned to music for the first time in two years. When she appeared in a new music video looking leaner than before, social media was flooded with reckless speculation and hate comments about her health condition, including “anorexia.”

Grande has faced appearance-related controversy whenever she appears with a slim figure, and she has previously warned against discussing her body by saying it is “so dangerous.” Analysts say her back-to-back appearances in the recent film “Wicked” and its sequel, which have kept her in the public eye nonstop, also played into the latest decision.