Ariana Grande hinted at personal “growth” days after she announced that she would be stepping back from the public eye.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed the pop star, 33, “liked” a Wednesday, August 5, Instagram post about becoming a “healthier version” of oneself despite others’ opinions.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm that not everyone will like the healthier version of you,” read the post by psychotherapist Terri Cole. “That’s OK, get healthier anyway.”
In the caption, Cole added, “Growth certainly has a way of shifting relationships, and that tension can be awkward to deal with sometimes. There are going to be people who celebrate the healthier version of you … and you might have those who miss the version of you that was stretched thin, keeping everyone else happy + comfortable.”
The author encouraged readers to “keep growing and prioritizing yourself regardless.”
“You have more strength than you likely give yourself credit for, and every step you take to honor your boundaries is proof of that,” the post continued. “The people who are meant to be in your circle will love and appreciate your growth, not just the parts of you that make everything “comfortable or convenient.”
Grande’s “like” on Cole’s post comes days after the singer’s rep revealed her plans to take a public break following the end of her Eternal Sunshine Tour on September 1. (Grande is set to perform 10 shows at the O2 Arena in London beginning August 15.)
“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,” Grande’s spokesperson told People on Sunday, August 2. “This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
Many social media users have expressed concern over Grande’s physical appearance in recent months, a conversation which was reignited following the release of her “Petal” music video on Friday, July 31.
Grande addressed the decision to take a step back during her Chicago tour stop on Monday, August 3.
“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion, so I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight, because I love you so much,” she said on stage. “The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing. It is something that I had decided, a plan I had quietly made a long time ago, and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
Grande continued, “I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes, and also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional career. No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me than this love that we share and how it feels to make art with people that I love and respect. Absolutely nothing will change that.”
