The celebrity utilized social media to express gratitude to followers for their backing and to elucidate her choice.
Nelly Furtado, the Portuguese-Canadian vocalist renowned for her Grammy-winning tracks “I'm Like a Bird” and “Maneater,” has declared that she will be taking an open-ended pause from performing. The artist conveyed the news on her Instagram page on October 24, mentioning that she desires to concentrate on fresh ventures.
“I have resolved to withdraw from performing for an unspecified period and to dedicate myself to other inventive and individual undertakings that I believe are more aligned with this novel chapter of my existence,” Furtado penned.
The vocalist's decision occurred around the 25th anniversary of her initial album, Whoa, Nelly!, and, according to press reports, might be linked to the strain the artist faced following her return to the stage. After a seven-year hiatus, Furtado recommenced her performance engagements in 2024, but almost immediately encountered a surge of body shaming on social platforms. Remarks from users frequently centered not on her music, but on her physical appearance, which became a topic of conversation in Western publications.
In spite of this, the singer has consistently addressed criticism with poise and self-deprecating humor. During her appearance at Manchester Pride 2025, she graced the stage donning a T-shirt showcasing a graphic of an hourglass shape – a playful retort to the numerous observations regarding her physique. This appearance sparked a surge of support from admirers, who lauded the artist as a paragon of resilience and self-respect.
As far back as January 2025, Nelly Furtado encouraged followers to participate in the #BodyNeutral2025 movement, which champions body acceptance without prejudice or idealization. At that moment, she expressed that upon returning, she “felt the aesthetic demands of her profession in an entirely new light,” but concurrently cultivated enhanced levels of self-acceptance.
In her parting announcement, Furtado offered gratitude to her team and fans for their years of encouragement:
“I will invariably identify as a creator. I am appreciative for the years filled with joy, community, and inspiration.”
Despite departing from the stage, the singer underscored that she is not concluding her artistic journey:
“I still cherish writing songs. It's consistently been a passion of mine that I've been fortunate enough to transform into a vocation.”
To reiterate, Nelly Furtado stands as one of the most accomplished pop icons of the early 2000s. Her albums Whoa, Nelly! and Loose propelled the singer to global recognition, and the tracks I'm Like a Bird, Say It Right, and Promiscuous ascended to become genuine sensations. In 2002, she secured the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. She has vended over 45 million recordings, and in recent times, her hits have seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to TikTok.
