Fans of American Horror Story have expressed outrage after reports emerged that Ariana Grande will not appear in the upcoming 13th season. The pop star, 33, was announced as part of the cast on Halloween 2025, marking her first role in Ryan Murphy's anthology series and a reunion with the producer after starring in his 2015 show Scream Queens.
Grande's exit confirmed by multiple sources
According to Deadline, Grande has exited the show without filming any scenes. A recently screened teaser for the new season did not feature the singer, fueling speculation. Sources cited by the publication said her departure was due to clashes between her Eternal Sunshine tour dates and shifting production schedules. The tour had already seen several July dates postponed at the end of June due to safety and production issues.
FX has confirmed the season will premiere on September 24, but details about the storyline or Grande's intended role remain undisclosed. The show's return date remains unchanged despite her exit.
Fan backlash and boycott threats
News of Grande's departure has devastated fans, with many vowing to skip the season. On X, user Cherscientist wrote, 'Oh my god this was going to be my first time watching.' Another user, gagatellacvnty2, commented, 'No one's gonna watch it then.' Matt echoed, 'The fact i started watching the whole show just to be ready to watch that season because of her.'
Additional reactions included kkotism stating, 'Aaaaand i'm no longer tuning in,' and vsc complaining, 'I binged 5 seasons in 2 weeks of this series to prepare for 13 and then it goes and pulls this on me.' HausofManda declared, 'This is the worst news ever actually,' while Kyler agreed, 'I'm so upset about this.' Successfullshakes added, 'Dang that's unfortunate, I was rly hoping for a scream queens crossover.'
Speculation on Grande's role
Some fans have speculated that Grande's role was minor, given her ability to drop out last minute. On Reddit, user hypermad shared, 'When she got announced I assumed she was a pretty significant role in the season but the fact she dropped out in the middle of filming like this suggest the opposite? Or whatever she was doing is just being written out, which feels more Ryan Murphy lol.'
The new season will still feature Murphy regulars including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, and Jessica Lange, alongside director John Waters. Grande, meanwhile, is set to appear in the upcoming film Focker-In-Law with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro.
Tour disruptions and personal news
Grande apologized to fans in late June after postponing several tour dates, citing safety and production concerns. She said, 'The utmost important thing to us all is safety, first and foremost, and also making sure you all see the show how it is intended to run. Thank you so much for your understanding and I cannot wait to see you.' The tour had experienced on-stage malfunctions including stuck lifts and screen outages.
Reports also indicate Grande has split from boyfriend Ethan Slater after three years together. The couple met on the set of Wicked. Metro has reached out to FX and Grande's representatives for comment.
