American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy recently addressed Ariana Grande‘s decision to withdraw from her anticipated appearance in the show’s 13th season.
“I love Ariana Grande. We’re great friends. I had an idea and I approached her, and she immediately said, ‘I’m not sure because I think I’m going on tour,’” Murphy, 60, shared with The Hollywood Reporter in a profile released on Thursday, August 6. “I don’t think the tour had been announced, and she had obviously just finished the Wicked movie.”
Despite Grande’s hectic schedule, Murphy was eager to collaborate with her, 33.
“When it was time to do that episode, I called her and she was like, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to juggle the tour with this,’” he explained. “And I said, ‘OK, if you can’t, we can push to another season.’ She said, ‘Great.’”
Murphy, keen on collaborating with Grande, emphasized the importance of respecting her schedule. “No one is busier than Ariana Grande,” he remarked, citing her plans to release an album. He explained, “The scheduling conflict was genuine.”
Murphy added, “Ariana is a horror enthusiast. She has paid homage to the genre in her work, as seen in Scream Queens, which she enjoyed, and audiences loved her in that role. I am always open to working with her.”
He remained optimistic about the possibility of featuring Grande in future projects.
“I adore her and fully support her,” he said of Grande. “It was a bold move, but I might revisit it for another season, depending on Ariana’s availability. I hold her in high regard.”
Last month, news emerged that Grande would not feature in the forthcoming 13th season of AHS. Her schedule has been packed following the release of Wicked and Wicked: For Good, with Focker-in-Law slated for release in November after her Eternal Sunshine Tour concludes.
Murphy’s remarks followed an announcement from Grande’s representative that she would be taking a step back from public activities.
“She is eager to finish the tour on a positive note, both healthily and happily, and then take a well-deserved break from public engagements, which have brought endless scrutiny,” stated an announcement on Sunday, August 2. “This tour has been a wonderful experience for her. She cherishes her fans and has enjoyed every moment of the tour immensely.”
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In recent months, social media discussions about Grande’s physical appearance have intensified, especially following her “Petal” music video release.
Grande addressed her decision to take a break from the public eye while performing in Chicago on Monday, August 3.
“Sometimes when a story is not directly from me, it can be blown out of proportion, so I wanted to speak directly to my fans tonight because I love you so much,” she expressed on stage. “The announcement made yesterday was not reactive or impulsive. It was a decision I had quietly made a long time ago, from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
Grande continued, “I want you to know that many things can be true simultaneously. Boundaries may need to be set, people sometimes need a break, and this can still be the greatest experience of my professional career. No matter what noises exist out there, nothing can distort my reality or become more real to me than the love we share and the joy of creating art with people I love and respect. Absolutely nothing will change that.”
