Ariana Grande’s plans for hiatus revealed after decision to step away from spotlight

Ariana Grande plans to spend her time away from the spotlight surrounded by the people closest to her, including boyfriend Ricky Alvarez.

“She’ll be spending a lot of time with her family, friends and Ricky,” a source exclusively told Page Six. 

“Between touring, rehearsals and her other work commitments, she and Ricky haven’t been able to spend as much time together as she would have liked over the past few months, so she’s looking forward to having more uninterrupted time with him,” the insider said.

Alvarez, 35, previously worked as the 33-year-old’s backup dancer before the pair began dating in 2015. They broke up the following year but remained on friendly terms.

The pair recently rekindled their romance following Grande’s split from her “Wicked” co-star, Ethan Slater. 

The Oscar nominee’s rep revealed on Sunday that she would be stepping back from public-facing work once her “Eternal Sunshine” tour concludes on Sept. 1 at the O2 Arena in London.

Her rep said the singer planned to take a “much-deserved break” following the “endless, ongoing public scrutiny” surrounding her.

The insider told Page Six, “She’s looking forward to having more freedom in her day and being able to make plans without constantly working around such a demanding schedule.”

The Grammy winner’s decision came after she endured renewed online commentary about her weight and appearance following the release of her “Petal” music video.

In a clip from the video, Grande is seen auditioning before a panel of men in an office, rocking a “Grease”-inspired outfit consisting of black leggings, a black off-the-shoulder-top and a scarf around her neck.

The “7 Rings” singer’s fans flocked to social media to share thoughts on her appearance in her latest video.

“She is extremely thin and it’s concerning,” remarked one person, with another chiming in, “I think people are allowed to be concerned for her health.”

Others defended Grande amid the discussions about her body and speculation about her health.

“If y’all actually cared about her you wouldn’t be publicly making comments about her body,” one person on X wrote.

Grande also pulled out of the upcoming West End revival of “Sunday in the Park with George,” in which she was set to star opposite her “Wicked” co-star, Jonathan Bailey, next summer.

“Following this evening’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from ‘Sunday in the Park with George,’ ” read a statement shared by the musical’s official X account Sunday.

“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support,” the producers continued over the weekend.

“We wish her nothing but the best,” the statement concluded. “The production will open at the Barbican in summer 2027 as planned, and casting will be announced in due course.”

Another source previously told Page Six that Grande had been “working nonstop for a long time and finally got to a point where she realized she needed to give herself permission to step back for a while.”

“She’ll be spending time with her family and friends, with loved ones, and just enjoying some well-deserved downtime,” the insider said.

Representatives for Grande did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

Meanwhile, Grande brushed off the “negativity” as she addressed her plans to step away from the spotlight at her “Eternal Sunshine” show in Chicago on Monday.

“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,” she told the audience, who cheered in response.

The actress insisted that “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,” she continued. “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.”

Earlier in her four-minute mid-concert speech, Grande said that choosing to temporarily retreat from public life after her tour “was not a reactive or impulsive” decision.

“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,” she explained. “And I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time.”

There is currently no set timeline for when Grande will return to the spotlight.