Ariana Grande steps back after tour finale

Ariana Grande completed her Eternal Sunshine tour in London on Tuesday. She is now stepping back from all public-facing appearances. Grande made an emotional exit at London's O2 Arena, wrapping up a 10-show residency. She was occasionally close to tears during the performance, most notably while singing One Last Time, a song that became an anthem for survivors of the 2017 Manchester terror attack. Last month, Grande announced a break from public visibility. This followed months of speculation about her health and appearance. A publicist cited endless, ongoing public scrutiny as the reason. A source close to the singer stated that Grande performs a very physical show healthily and successfully at a high level. Grande herself said her decision came from a thoughtful, empowered place and had been planned a long time ago. The hiatus includes withdrawing from a production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George in London next summer. On stage in London, Grande showed no signs of fragility or poor health - other than a foot injury that required her to swap her trademark stilettos for platform boots. She sprang across the stage in sync with her dancers. Her voice faltered briefly during the song Nowhere, Nobody, but she regained her composure. Addressing the audience, she thanked fans for their support, calling it one of the most beautiful extraordinary experiences of her life. Even before her official announcement, Grande had described the tour as one last hurrah. She expressed a desire to take more acting roles. Her London residency represented many fans' last chance to see her in concert. 200,000 people attended the London dates alone. Fans traveled from China, Australia, and across Europe. Reviews of the tour were overwhelmingly positive. Rolling Stone magazine wrote that there's no question about it - Ariana Grande is one of the best singers of her generation. The Telegraph called the show flawless. The BBC's review highlighted quieter songs as delicate and gorgeous. However, a Guardian writer said she was gripped by genuine concern for Grande during the performance. The NME marveled at her physical prowess. Fans at the final show expressed mixed emotions. One London fan said he was devastated by Grande's withdrawal from touring. A fan from France supported her decision, saying if she needs the break, she takes it and real fans understand. A Polish fan said it was sad that people are speculating about someone else's health. Grande ended the final show attached to a harness and ascending into the rafters before disappearing from view.