Ariana Grande has announced the death of her beloved dog Coco, a Dachshund-German Shepherd mix, at the age of 17. The 33-year-old singer shared the news on Instagram during her hiatus from public life, following intense online scrutiny of her appearance.
Singer's Emotional Tribute
The "Thank U, Next" singer wrote: "Sweetest, most amazing and most beautiful coco… I am so proud of you. Thank you for your love, and for blessing this planet with your physical presence for over seventeen wonderful years. You make everywhere you go a more beautiful place."
She added, "I will miss you every day and hold you in my heart always. i love you so, sweet girl." Grande is the proud owner of 10 dogs, all adopted from pet shelters over the years.
Break from Public Life
The loss comes two months after she announced she was taking a break from public life at the end of her Eternal Sunshine Tour. During the final show at London's O2, she broke down in tears thanking fans for being "by her side" throughout the tour.
She told fans: "This has been such an extraordinary experience. Thank you for 10 beautiful London shows and for 41 incredible Eternal Sunshine tour shows. This has been one of the most beautiful, extraordinary experiences of my life and I just want to express my gratitude."
Addressing Concerns
Grande had sparked concern during the eighth night of her residency when fans spotted her limping during a performance. One fan commented on TikTok: "Ariana rolled her ankle and was seen limping through most of the show last night. I hope she's feeling better and recovering! Good thing she has some rest before the next show."
She has also pulled out of the forthcoming theatre production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday In The Park With George. During a show in Chicago, she paused to address fans directly, saying: "Sometimes when a story comes out that's not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion, so I wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much."
She explained that her decision to take a break was not reactive but planned: "It is something that I had decided, it's a plan that I had quietly made a long time ago, and it's a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place." She reassured fans that negativity was not ruining her experience, stating, "Nothing can ruin... Multiple things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes."
