Ariana Grande has insisted her break from the spotlight was planned 'a long time ago', telling fans that 'boundaries need to be set' in a defiant on stage statement last month.A day after it was announced she was taking a 'break' after her Eternal Sunshine tour concludes in September amid 'ongoing scrutiny', the star, 33, broke her silence during her concert in Chicago on Monday.She was keen to clarify to fans that her break had been 'quietly' planned 'a long time ago' before insisting that the decision was not made because 'negativity was ruining things for me'.Her insistance that the decision was a long time in the making is a further blow to producers of London theatre show Sunday in the Park with George, who released a statement on Sunday announcing that Ariana was quitting the summer 2027 show. Ariana explained on stage that 'multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes.'She added that her tour, which she kicked off in North America in June and which will conclude with ten London dates in September 'will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life'.Ariana Grande has insisted her break from the spotlight was planned 'a long time ago', telling fans that 'boundaries need to be set' in a defiant on stage statement last month (pictured on Monday night)'Sometimes when a story comes out that's not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,' Ariana began in her on stage speech on Monday, 'So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much. The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing.' 'It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it's a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know many things can be true at the same time.''I want to share this because 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 f**k opposite. Honestly, this is not what that is.''And I just want to be very, very clear: Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they 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 and creative life.''No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or elaborate to me than this love that we share,' she gushed to fans from the stage.'The rest of that s**t is not mine to carry, so I don't carry it. I need to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.'Ariana's exit from the spotlight means she has decided to bow out of her starring role in the London production of Sunday in the Park with George at the Barbican Centre in summer 2027.She was set to reunite with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey for the anticipated show, but producers confirmed in a statement on Sunday that she had decided to withdraw, adding 'we know this cannot have been an easy decision.'The statement confirmed that the production will go ahead and open as planned at the Barbican in summer 2027 with casting 'announced in due course'. A day after after it was announced she was taking a 'break' after her Eternal Sunshine tour concludes in September amid 'ongoing scrutiny', the star, 33, broke her silence During her concert in Chicago on Monday, she was keen to clarify to fans that her break had been 'quietly' planned 'a long time ago' Tickets for the show are due to go on sale in the autumn.Concerns were first raised about whether Sunday in the Park with George was going ahead when ticket sales were halted earlier this summer.There were said to be growing fears that Ariana, who had just kicked off her Eternal Sunshine tour in America, was 'oversubscribed' and eight theatre shows a week would be too demanding for the star. A source close to Ariana's camp confirmed to the Daily Mail at the time though that 'there's no doubt she's still doing it'.They added: 'The show is still happening but ticket sales were pushed to September due to her touring and album release schedule.' She will also reportedly skip promotion for her upcoming movie Focker-in-Law, due to hit cinemas in November.Insiders have insisted Ariana will finish her tour and it will be 'her last gift for fans'.A source told The Sun: 'She is performing to rave reviews each night and is really enjoying herself, no matter what people are writing on TikTok and Instagram.'Her decision to step away is her own and she's doing it at the right time for her.' Her next project would have seen her return to London for a summer 2027 theatre run opposite her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey, but her representative has confirmed she will no longer be taking partAriana's spokesman told PEOPLE on Sunday that Ariana will 'be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour'. '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.'This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.'A source close to the singer explained that Ariana's tour involves a very physical and athletic performance which she performs at a healthy and high level.Ariana's appearance has come under scrutiny in recent months, especially following the release of her new music video, Petal.She has publicly insisted that she's healthy but that didn't stop fans from pointing out how incredibly gaunt she looks in the violent music video. Jameela Jamil was among those commentators facing backlash after she said Ariana 'is possibly dying right in front of us'. Jameela Jamil was among those commentators facing backlash after she said Ariana'is possibly dying right in front of us' before she added in a new post on Tuesday that she as happy Ariana was planning a breakThe actress and activist, 40, – who has spoken openly about her own previous struggles with anorexia – wrote online: 'This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us. This outfit is designed to accentuate the thinness for discourse. 'Her team are thoroughly irresponsible for not guiding her away from this deeply damaging image for her young fans to see so glamorized.' After some were upset with Jameela's comments she then in a later post defended herself saying she 'prays that Ariana recovers'. In a further post on Tuesday morning, Jameela responded to Ariana's clarification on stage, writing on Instagram: 'Ariana Grande explains this break was planned for a long time and was not a reaction to her work. She wants rest and boundaries and I think that's great. It's something more people need to do for themselves.' Ariana has hit back at people who have commented on her body multiple times previously.In her 2024 song, Yes, And? from the album Eternal Sunshine, Ariana addresses the scrutiny over her appearance, singing: 'My face is sitting, I don't need no disguise.'Don't comment on my body, do not reply. Your business is yours and mine is mine.'Why do you care so much whose - I ride? Why?'In January, Ariana admitted that it would be 'healthy' for her to take a career break.She told Vogue Japan: 'I think that it would probably be healthy. I'm not used to taking breaks. But I do know that I grew so much from taking space from music while I was filming Wicked... But yeah, these past few years have been pretty non-stop. And by few, I mean 15.'The Wicked: For Good actress explained that she is searching for more 'balance' in the years to come.She said: 'Balance is the goal for the next 15 years. I don't think they will look like the previous 15 years. I think there will be more balance.'