Ariana Grande has expanded upon her recent decision to take “a step back from visibility” when her tour ends next month, as a result of what a spokesperson called “endless, ongoing public scrutiny”. Grande appeared to reference ongoing public concern about her weight, which heightened after the release of the video for Petal, the lead single from her new album of the same name, last week. “I heard my fans were worried negativity was ruining things for me but that could not be more than the opposite,” she said. Grande said she had made her decision from a “thoughtful and empowered place”. She called her current tour “one of the most healing, beautiful, correct and special experiences” of her life.