Ariana Grande may be stepping away from the limelight for a while, but fans don't expect her to disappear before one last date with the Fockers.
The pop superstar is expected to participate in promotion for her upcoming comedy film, Focker In-Law, before beginning her previously announced break from public visibility.
The update comes after Grande wrapped her Eternal Sunshine tour in London on Tuesday, 1 September. Her representative previously said she planned to 'take a step back from visibility' after finishing the tour, leaving some fans wondering what that meant for her already-completed projects.
One of those projects is Focker In-Law, which hits cinemas on 25 November and reunites franchise stars Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro.
It appears Grande still has some Focker business to finish before finally taking that well-deserved break from stardom.
Ariana Grande Isn't Skipping 'Focker In-Law' Promo
Grande plans to participate in the film's promotional run this autumn before beginning her break, according to Billboard.
Her decision to promote the comedy reportedly comes after she pulled out of the planned 2027 West End revival of Sunday in the Park With George, in which she had been expected to reunite with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey. Bailey has also since departed the production.
However, Grande's hiatus from public visibility apparently doesn't mean abandoning work she has already completed. She is reportedly proud of Focker In-Law and will continue working on her R.E.M. Beauty brand during her time off superstar duty.
When her plans first emerged in August, Grande's representative said she was looking forward to finishing her tour 'healthily and happily' before taking a 'much-deserved break'.
Grande later addressed the decision herself during her Chicago concert, stressing that it 'was not a reactive or impulsive thing'.
Instead, she described it as 'a plan that I had quietly made a long time ago' and one made from a 'thoughtful and empowered place'.
Fans Aren't Exactly Surprised
Over on Reddit, plenty of fans weren't shocked to hear that Ariana Grande could still appear on the Focker-in-Law press circuit.
'Expected. I don't think it'll be much press anyway,' one commenter wrote.
Others suggested promotional appearances may already form part of Grande's commitments to the film, although no details about her contract have been publicly confirmed.
'I would also guess she has some level of contractual agreement to do this press tour she can't easily get out of,' one Redditor speculated.
Another fan argued that promoting an already-completed project hardly contradicts Grande's plans to step back.
'Honestly, I don't even consider this a major contradiction. The press run will be very limited and stuff with rem can be pre filmed in advance,' they wrote.
Others simply suspect Grande won't stay away for too long.
'I truly respect and support her in whatever she feels she needs to do for her health, but I have a gut feeling she'll be back sooner than we realize,' another fan wrote.
For now, Grande hasn't revealed exactly how long her break will last or what 'stepping back' will look like.
But before she says 'thank u, next' to public visibility, it appears there's still one family engagement on the calendar.
The Fockers are calling.
