Ariana Grande breaks down on stage as star struggles to sing during final show before hiatus

The singer’s decision to withdraw from public-facing work follows months of relentless scrutiny over her appearance and health, intensified by a music video from her recently released album Petal.

Her representative had described the attention as “endless, ongoing public scrutiny” when announcing the planned hiatus last month.

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Ms Grande told the crowd the tour had been “one of the most beautiful, extraordinary experiences” of her life.

Fighting back tears roughly ninety minutes into the two-hour set, she addressed the audience directly, saying she wanted to express her gratitude “without sobbing completely”.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she told them.

“I have the best fans in the entire world and I always have. Thank you for being by my side.”

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INSTAGRAM / ARIANA GRANDE

She praised the crowd’s elaborate costumes, make-up and dedication, adding: “I have loved every minute of this with you all.”

The emotion spilt over again as she performed the new track Nowhere, Nobody for the first time live, her voice cracking on the opening line.

During One Last Time, she was forced to ask the audience to carry the melody when she could no longer get the words out.

Ms Grande also grew visibly moved while thanking the crew behind the production, singling out dancers, security staff, make-up artists and runners.

Despite suffering a “deep cut” to her foot, which forced her to swap her trademark high heels for flat black and white above-the-knee boots, Ms Grande’s choreography remained vigorous as she moved across a stage spanning half the arena’s length.

She sported her signature ponytail throughout much of the performance.

One of the night’s most talked-about moments came during Thank You, Next, when she swapped the original lyric about ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, “wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh,” for “wrote some songs about Ricky, I’m tryna make him my last”, prompting screams from the audience.

The dancer and photographer had appeared alongside Ms Grande in an Instagram post earlier in the week, fuelling speculation about a rekindled relationship.

@katybaehm She cried non stop London night 10 … we love our emotional queen @arianagrande #arianagrande #ari #eternalsunshine #eternalsunshinetour #london ♬ Originalton – Katybaehm

Fans also failed her viral “mute challenge”, unable to contain their excitement when asked to fall silent as the lights dimmed.

The show concluded with Ms Grande ascending into the rafters on wires while performing Supernatural, as tearful audience members waved goodbye.

Ms Grande’s withdrawal from the forthcoming Barbican revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George had already been confirmed as part of her step back.

On Tuesday, her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, 38, revealed he would also be leaving the production.

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“Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering,” he said in a statement posted on social media.

“After much consideration, I have decided to also step back from Sunday in the Park with George.”

The hiatus was announced last month, shortly after the release of Petal, when a music video from the album reignited discussion about her health.

At a Chicago concert on August 3, Ms Grande had paused the show to read from a prepared note, insisting the decision was neither “a reactive or impulsive thing” but something she had planned well in advance.