The real reason Ariana Grande is disappearing from spotlight after brutal weight criticism

Ariana Grande is taking a step back from the spotlight after dealing with public scrutiny over her weight.

“She’s been happy performing her recent shows and being back on stage, but she’s been overworked,” a source exclusively told Page Six of Grande, who is on her “Eternal Sunshine” tour. “She’s been nonstop and it’s taking a toll. She’s never handled the public scrutiny well and constant chatter about her weight [doesn’t help].”

A second insider claimed that Grande’s decision had less to do with her workload and more to do with the relentless attention surrounding her personal life and appearance.

“She’s been in a really good place on tour. She loves doing it and it’s been positive,” the second source said, emphasizing it was the “nonstop public scrutiny,” more than her schedule, that contributed to her decision to pull back.

The insider added that Grande’s choice to exit the West End production of “Sunday in the Park with George” was “well thought out.”

A third source said the Grammy winner, 33, simply reached a point where she knew she needed to prioritize herself.

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

The source added that walking away from “Sunday in the Park with George” “wasn’t an easy decision at all.”

“She went back and forth over it because she was genuinely excited about it, but in the end she felt it was the right decision for where she is at this point in her life,” the insider said. 

“Right now there isn’t some set timeline for when she’ll be back. She’s just taking things one step at a time and isn’t putting pressure on herself to make those decisions yet.”

According to the source, Grande has also been overwhelmed by everything she has taken on in recent years.

“As far as what led to this decision, it wasn’t one specific incident,” the insider explained.

“Between everything she’s taken on over the past few years and all the attention that’s been on her lately, she felt it was finally time to slow down and put herself first for a while.”

The source said that the singer has been “really touched by all the love and support she’s received and is incredibly grateful for it.”

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

Grande’s rep revealed on Sunday that the singer, who is on her “Eternal Sunshine” tour, is taking a break from the spotlight amid “endless public scrutiny.”

“Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” her rep told People. “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,” the rep continued.

Grande’s decision comes after producers of the West End production confirmed Sunday that she would no longer be joining the cast of “Sunday in the Park with George.”

“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.”

Grande, notably, was set to star in the musical opposite her “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey at London’s Barbican Centre.

The announcement also follows months of public conversation about the “Eternal Sunshine” singer’s appearance, including renewed online discussion after the release of her “Petal” music video, which sparked another wave of speculation about her weight. 

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 “Wicked” star’s fans flocked to social media to share thoughts on Grande’s 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 discussion of 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, while another urged commenters to “mind your own f–kin business.”

This also comes after Grande’s split from ex-boyfriend Ethan Slater after three years of dating. Page Six confirmed she is now back together with her ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez.