Jonathan Bailey has announced he has pulled out of West End show Sunday In The Park With George after his ‘best friend’ Ariana Grande pulled out last month.
Ariana will perform her last ever show in London tonight (September 1) before stepping back from the public eye.
Just hours before she took the stage, Jonathan shared a statement revealing his surprise departure in support of Ariana’s decision to pull out as well.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘Ari is one of my dearest friends, and my support for her is unwavering.
‘Marianne (director) is extraordinary and one of my longest collaborators and friends. After much thought, I have decided to take a step back from Sunday in the park with George.
“This brilliant, introspective musical has been a true passion project for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have shared this journey with this team.
“The story explores, among other things, the deep bond between George and Dot, a beautiful, committed combination, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the two actors who will now take on these roles will create with it.”
The Wicked co-stars, who are close friends, were set to star opposite each other in the production next summer.
Ariana announced her decision to step away from visibility last month and confirmed she would no longer be taking part in the West End show.
Jonathan Bailey has announced he has pulled out of West End show Sunday In The Park after his ‘best friend’ Ariana Grande pulled out last month
He wrote on Instagram: ‘After much thought I have decided to take a step back from Sunday in the park with George’
Ariana’s spokesperson said this PEOPLE: ‘Ariana will take a step back from visibility after completing the Eternal Sunshine Tour.
“She looks forward to wrapping up the tour on a high, both healthy and happy, and then taking a well-deserved break from public work and performances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.”
‘This tour has been a wonderful experience for her. She loves her fans and has thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this tour.”
A statement from the producers of Sunday in the Park with George, Empire Street Productions, read: ‘Following tonight’s announcement from Ariana Grande’s team, we can confirm that she has decided to step back from Sunday in the Park with George.
“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and it is made with our full understanding and support.
“We wish her nothing but the best. The production will open as planned at the Barbican in summer 2027 and casting will be announced in due course.”
Ariana’s performance has come under scrutiny in recent months, especially following the release of her new music video Petal.
She has publicly insisted she is healthy, but that hasn’t stopped fans from pointing out how incredibly thin she looks in the violent music video.
