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Ryan Murphy has addressed Ariana Grande's unexpected departure from the upcoming 13th season of American Horror Story, making it clear that the decision came down to scheduling rather than any creative differences.
Grande was announced as part of the cast in October 2025, but plans changed after production shifted to the summer, clashing with dates for her Eternal Sunshine tour. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy stressed that the situation was straightforward.
"It was really, truly a scheduling conflict," he said. "I love Ariana Grande. We're great friends."
Murphy explained that when he first approached the singer with the role, she immediately warned him that a tour might affect her availability. At the time, the tour had not yet been announced, and Grande had just wrapped work on Wicked.
"When it came time to do that episode, I called her up and she was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to juggle the tour with this,'" Murphy recalled. Rather than forcing the issue, he suggested postponing the collaboration. "I said, 'OK, if you can't, we can push to another season.' She said, 'Great.'"
The television producer said he wanted to respect the demands of Grande's schedule, joking, "Who is busier than Ariana Grande? No one." He added that the singer had also been preparing to release a new album, making the timing even more difficult.
Murphy praised Grande's enthusiasm for the horror genre, pointing to their previous collaboration on Scream Queens. "Ariana is a big fan of horror," he said, adding that he would "always work with her" and could revisit the idea in a future season depending on her availability. "I love her, and I support her. I think the world of her."
Grande had previously described her planned American Horror Story appearance as "a very tiny thing," saying she was grateful to be involved because she loved everyone working on the series.
Her exit from the show comes as she prepares to step away from the public eye after concluding her Eternal Sunshine tour on September 1. She has also withdrawn from the planned West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George, with producers confirming the role will be recast while expressing their full support for her decision.
A representative for the singer said Grande is looking forward to ending the tour "healthily and happily" before taking "a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances," noting that the constant public scrutiny has taken its toll.
Addressing fans during a concert in Chicago, Grande said the decision had been carefully considered and was "not a reactive or impulsive thing." She added, "Boundaries can need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes," while reassuring fans that "nothing will be able to distort my reality" or diminish the connection she shares with them.
