Review: Ariana Grande opens up about ‘endless, ongoing public scrutiny’ at United Center kickoff

First publishedAug 4, 18:53 UTC

Last updatedAug 5, 02:36 UTC · 8m ago

118:53–19:09 UTC1 outletChicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times6Review: Ariana Grande opens up about ‘endless, ongoing public scrutiny’ at United Center kickoffAug 4, 18:53 UTCOpen ↗

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<p>Ariana Grande probably wishes she could just wave a wand and make the whole public discourse about her disappear. But the renewed focus on her image — especially the past few days — has been quite wicked, and the singer addressed it on Monday night at the United Center.</p><p>“Is it OK if we get a little real tonight, is that OK?” the “Into You” singer politely asked four songs into her performance, the first of a three-night run at the stadium to wrap up the North American leg of her Eternal Sunshine Tour.</p><p>Just a day prior, a representative for Grande said that the singer <a class="Link" href="https://people.com/ariana-grande-taking-step-back-after-tour-amid-public-health-scrutiny-rep-exclusive-12032395" target="_blank" ><u>would take “a step back from visibility” </u></a>beginning in September, including canceling a previously confirmed role in the West End revival of “Sunday in the Park with George.” As the rep noted in the statement widely picked up by press, the break comes amid “endless, ongoing public scrutiny” about Grande’s appearance, which picked up renewed concern over the weekend.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-450000" name="image-450000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e3988ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+130/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F5c%2Fe1fff7cf4bdbb8c1bcbbacbf2b0e%2Fl1730760-jul-16-2026-katiatemkin.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6fbeb3c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+130/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F5c%2Fe1fff7cf4bdbb8c1bcbbacbf2b0e%2Fl1730760-jul-16-2026-katiatemkin.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83e4a20/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+130/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F5c%2Fe1fff7cf4bdbb8c1bcbbacbf2b0e%2Fl1730760-jul-16-2026-katiatemkin.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="L1730760_Jul 16 2026_@katiatemkin.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83e4a20/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+130/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F5c%2Fe1fff7cf4bdbb8c1bcbbacbf2b0e%2Fl1730760-jul-16-2026-katiatemkin.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ceb0c7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+130/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F5c%2Fe1fff7cf4bdbb8c1bcbbacbf2b0e%2Fl1730760-jul-16-2026-katiatemkin.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83e4a20/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+130/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F5c%2Fe1fff7cf4bdbb8c1bcbbacbf2b0e%2Fl1730760-jul-16-2026-katiatemkin.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Ariana Grande performs in New York as part of her Eternal Sunshine Tour. The singer announced this week she is stepping back from the public eye after her tour concludes.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Katia Temkin</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>On Friday, the 33-year-old star released her latest music video for the title track of her brand-new album, “Petal,” ironically centered on a storyline of brutally attacking her critics. But as the visible bones of Grande’s shoulder and chest are seen in frame after frame, it has sparked questions about her health and well-being.</p><p>Grande wanted to “clear the air” about the topic.

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  Review: Ariana Grande opens up about ‘endless, ongoing public scrutiny’ at United Center kickoff

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  Chicago Sun-TimesAug 4, 18:53

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