Ariana Grande tears up at final show before stepping back from public life

Pop star Ariana Grande took the stage for a tearful farewell to fans at her final scheduled performance before stepping away from public life.

According to CNN, Grande broke down in tears Wednesday at the closing night of her Eternal Sunshine Tour in London, telling the crowd, "This has been such a special experience. I will carry this with me forever."

She went on to express her affection for fans around the world. "I have had the best fans from all over the world," she said. "I love seeing your outfits and your faces, and I love being connected to you like this. I'm so grateful for all the effort you put in to make this so special."

Visibly overcome with emotion and struggling to speak, Grande said she wanted to express her gratitude without crying too much, repeatedly thanking fans and telling them she loved them.

The London concert was the last official engagement on Grande's schedule after she announced last month that she would be suspending all activities.

Grande had released her eighth studio album, "Petal," on July 31 and returned to performing for the first time in two years. Just over a month after her comeback, however, she abruptly decided to halt all activities. She also withdrew from the West End musical "Sunday in the Park with George," in which she had been set to appear.

Her spokesperson said Grande had been under constant public scrutiny and had decided "to step back from the public eye." No date has been set for her return, and a lengthy hiatus remains a possibility, the spokesperson said.

Grande made her debut in 2008 and has worked as a singer and musical theater actor for nearly two decades, making the news of her hiatus a shock to fans. Some have speculated that a wave of malicious online comments about her dramatic weight loss and appearance may have contributed to her decision.

Grande, however, said the decision to step back was "not an impulsive one" and had been planned long in advance.