Piers Morgan has spoken out in support of Ariana Grande, urging critics to stop commenting on the singer’s appearance as she prepares to step away from public view following her current tour.
In an Instagram post shared Tuesday (Aug. 4), the British broadcaster posted a photo of himself with Grande and wrote: “I’ve no idea what’s going on with @arianagrande but I do know, after spending a random evening with her in a Beverly Hills restaurant a few years ago, that she’s a genuinely great person: intelligent, funny, engaging, and of course, supremely talented. Fame at her pop superstar level can be a very difficult and lonely place. So, I urge all the trolls currently making her life a misery with this constant chuntering about her appearance to back off and give her the space she needs to sort herself out.”
Morgan’s comments arrive shortly after Grande’s team confirmed she will take a break from public appearances once the Eternal Sunshine Tour wraps. A representative told People that the singer “will be taking a step back from visibility” after the trek ends, citing “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” The statement added that she looks forward to finishing the tour “on a high note, both healthily and happily.”
The Eternal Sunshine Tour, which launched in June, is set to conclude Sept. 1 with the final date of a 10-show run at London’s O2 Arena. As part of her planned hiatus, Grande has also withdrawn from a 2027 West End revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican, where she was scheduled to star opposite Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
Public discussion around Grande’s appearance and health has intensified in recent weeks, particularly following the release of her new album Petal and its accompanying music video. Online speculation prompted Instagram to attach a community note to the video linking to eating disorder resources.
Grande addressed the situation directly during her Aug. 3 show at Chicago’s United Center. Pausing the performance, she told the audience the decision to step back “was not a reactive or impulsive thing” but something she had “quietly” planned “a long time ago” from “a thoughtful and empowered place.”
“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 opposite,” she said. “Boundaries need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes.” Grande also described the current tour as one of the most meaningful experiences of her career.
Morgan’s post references a 2019 encounter at a Beverly Hills restaurant, where the two spent several hours talking after a chance meeting. Both later described the conversation as productive and friendly, despite earlier public disagreements.
Grande is scheduled to complete her remaining U.S. dates in Chicago this week before heading to London for the final leg of the tour.
