Ariana Grande ends ‘Eternal Sunshine’ tour with emotional farewell
Ariana Grande delivered an emotional farewell on Tuesday night as she concluded her Eternal Sunshine tour and prepared to take a break from public appearances.
The singer became visibly emotional at several points during the performance, particularly while singing One Last Time, a song that has taken on added significance as an anthem associated with survivors of the 2017 Manchester terror attack.
At one point, Grande knelt close to the audience and appealed to the London crowd for their support during the emotional performance.
Last month, the 33-year-old announced that she would step away from future public-facing engagements following months of intense public speculation about her health and appearance.
Her decision also means she will no longer take part in a planned production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George at London’s Barbican next summer. Her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, who was also due to appear in the production, withdrew on Tuesday.
Despite the scrutiny surrounding her health, Grande appeared energetic throughout the London show. The only obvious limitation was a foot injury that forced her to replace her usual stilettos with a series of knee-high platform boots.
She continued to perform energetically, moving across the stage alongside her dancers and frequently balancing on tiptoe to make up for the reduced height of her footwear.
Her voice briefly faltered during Nowhere, Nobody as she sang the line about believing in a perfect ending, but she quickly recovered and continued the performance with her usual confidence and stage presence.
As the concert drew to a close, Grande thanked her fans for their support and described the tour as one of the most extraordinary experiences of her life.
She said she would always cherish the experience and expressed gratitude to fans for helping make the tour so special.
Grande announced her planned hiatus last month, shortly after releasing the video for her latest single, Petal, which prompted some fans to raise concerns about her appearance and weight.
Her publicist subsequently confirmed that the singer was taking a step back from public visibility because of what was described as continuing and intense public scrutiny.
A source close to Grande told People magazine that she performs an extremely physical show at a high level and does so healthily and successfully night after night.
Grande also sought to reassure fans, explaining that her decision to step away had been carefully considered and was not driven by negativity.
She told audiences during a show in Chicago that people sometimes need to establish boundaries and take breaks, stressing that her decision had been made from a thoughtful and empowered position.
The Eternal Sunshine tour marked Grande’s return to live performances after a seven-year absence. The tour began in the United States in June and had previously been described by the singer as potentially her final major tour for a long time.
Her 10-show residency at London’s O2 Arena therefore became a particularly significant opportunity for fans to see her perform live, drawing about 200,000 people across the London dates.
Fans travelled from countries including China, Australia and several European nations to attend the shows.
During the second London performance, Grande surprised fans by bringing Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo onto the stage for a performance of their film duet For Good.
The London shows received largely positive reviews, with critics praising Grande’s vocals, stage presence and production.
However, some reviewers continued to express concern about the intense public attention surrounding her health and appearance.
On the final night, Grande also had to perform with the foot injury she described as a deep cut. She assured fans on Instagram that the injury was not serious and that she was recovering, promising to complete the remaining shows even if she had to perform without her usual heels.
She ultimately completed the show with a smile, delivering powerful vocals on songs including Dangerous Woman and racing across the stage during Break Free.
Grande ended the concert in her customary fashion, being lifted into the rafters of the O2 Arena by a harness before disappearing from view.
Her departure left many fans questioning when, or whether, they would see her return to touring.
Several fans said they were particularly emotional about the final show because of the uncertainty surrounding Grande’s future performances.
One London fan said he was devastated by the prospect of her withdrawal from touring and had deliberately attended the final concert in case it became his last opportunity to see her perform.
Other fans said they supported Grande’s decision to take a break, arguing that she deserved time away from public scrutiny and should be allowed to prioritise her wellbeing.
Fans who travelled from France and Poland also praised the singer for taking control of her own decision and urged others to respect her choice to step away from the spotlight.
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