Ariana Grande (Sam & Cat, Wicked) will no longer appear in Season 13 of American Horror Story, per Friday release from Deadline. The pop star, who was previously announced to be joining the cast of the horror anthology in an undisclosed role last Halloween, was reportedly unable to fulfill her commitment due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts.
Grande recently rescheduled several concert dates for her Eternal Sunshine Tour near the end of last month, citing safety reasons (via Billboard). “We are so sorry for these unfortunate scheduling changes,” Grande told fans. “This was our best and safest option as these challenges with production have come to our attention.”
As the Eternal Sunshine Tour’s last stop is scheduled for September 1st, and Season 13 of AHS is scheduled to premiere on September 24th, it seems probable that Grande was unable to break away from her career obligations long enough to perform her on-set duties — especially considering none of her scenes have been shot yet, as per Deadline’s anonymous source. But in the absence of an official statement from Grande or AHS producer FX, fans will be left to speculate.
Season 13 of American Horror Story has remained largely under wraps since its renewal in early 2020 (via Deadline). As each season of the anthology focuses on a different setting, with previous themes including Asylum, Freak Show, and Hotel, anything is possible. The prevailing rumor is that the upcoming season will serve as a companion to Season 3’s Coven, which follows a power struggle between a group of witches in modern-day New Orleans. Fans have cited the slated return of Coven actresses Jessica Lange (A Streetcar Named Desire) and Sarah Paulson (All’s Fair) as possible evidence of a reunion; it’s worth noting, though, that both Lange and Paulson have played multiple roles throughout their tenure on AHS, so their return isn’t necessarily an assurance that they’re reprising those specific roles.
Luckily, AHS fans might have answers to their speculations sooner than they think (also via Deadline). The series is set to have an activation at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con, where participants can follow a parade of themed ice cream trucks to discover the show’s “13th scoop”, and with it, hints at the season’s theme. (Just make sure not to ask for a “grande” when you’re ordering.)
Season 13 of FX’s American Horror Story will premiere on Thursday, September 24th, and will stream on Disney+ worldwide.