Ariana Grande quits West End role as she plans to step back from the spotlight amid ‘ongoing public scrutiny’ over her appearance

Ariana Grande has quit her upcoming West End role as she plans to take a break following her tour amid struggles with ‘ongoing public scrutiny’ over her appearance.

The American singer and actress, 33, is currently on tour her  and plans to step back from the public eye when it wraps in London on September 1.

Her next project was starring opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey in Sunday In The Park with George on stage in London, but her representative has confirmed she will no longer be taking part.

Ariana’s spokesperson told PEOPLE: ‘Ariana will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour. 

‘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.’

A source close to Ariana explained that Ariana’s tour involves a very physical and athletic performance which she performs at a healthy and high level.

Ariana’s appearance has come under scrutiny in recent months, especially following the release of her new music video, Petal.

She has publicly insisted that she’s healthy but that didn’t stop fans from pointing out how incredibly gaunt she looks in the violent music video.

In the bizarre clip, Ariana plays the character of Pepper, an aspiring starlet who attends multiple auditions in a bid to become famous.

After failing yet another audition, a group of studio bigwigs brand Ariana ‘unmarketable’, ‘unattractive’, and ‘inauthentic’, before accusing her of having a personality disorder.

‘We miss the old you,’ one tells her. ‘Maybe you could go out and find her and come back and give it another shot?’ 

Ariana leaves, only to return moments later with a chainsaw, which she uses to violently dismember the men. 

Now drenched in blood, she returns to the waiting room, only to receive a round of rapturous applause from the other female auditionees.

Despite the clever social commentary in the video, many fans were more distracted by Ariana’s weight than anything else. 

‘This is like looking at Karen Carpenter and everyone was like [shrug],’ wrote one fan.

‘I am actually so over us normalizing this and acting like this is okay,’ wrote a second.

‘Shocking and heartbreaking’, wrote a third, while a fourth added, ‘For the love of God, please eat something.’

Another wrote, ‘Her bones are literally popping out.’ 

Despite the concerned comments, other fans defended the singer and said that it was inappropriate to comment on her physical appearance. 

‘If y’all actually cared about her you wouldn’t be publicly making comments about her body,’ argued one.

‘The irony of all the girls over 200 pounds saying she’s “unhealthy”. You think being 200 pounds is healthy? Good lord, the jealousy is screaming from you guys!’ wrote another. 

Ariana released her eighth studio album, Petal, on Friday.