Nelly Furtado shocked her fans on Friday by announcing that she is stepping away from performing — a decision that comes amid a wave of cruel comments about her body.
The announcement came just weeks after the *Promiscuous* hitmaker had playfully dismissed online rumors about her appearance during her performance at Manchester Pride, where she proudly embraced her natural figure.
This time, however, her tone was much more serious.
Furtado, 45, shared the news in an emotional Instagram post on Friday, saying that while she remains endlessly grateful for her career — which began 25 years ago with her successful debut album *Whoa, Nelly!* and hit songs like *I’m Like a Bird* and *Maneater* — she now feels it’s time to “step away” and focus on “other creative and personal endeavors.”
The Grammy-winning star did not directly mention the negative comments in her post.
“Thank you for the journey,” she told her fans, adding that although she is retiring from live performances, she “will always continue to write music.”
Furtado’s heartfelt post included a photo of herself at age 20, before her first professional appearance at Lilith Fair, as well as a video from her triumphant concert in Berlin this summer — a moment she described as “finally understanding what it means to receive flowers,” as the crowd cheered her name.
Recalling the early days of her career, she shared that for her first performance she had bought “a pink dress from a store called Original on Queen West in Toronto,” along with “a pair of glittery platform shoes for the occasion.”
“It was so meaningful, and as an artist, I felt so fulfilled,” she wrote.
Marking the 25th anniversary of her debut album *Whoa, Nelly!*, the singer reflected on her musical journey:
“Twenty-five years later, my music has reached a new generation of fans, and I couldn’t be happier about it,” she said.
“I never could have imagined there would be so many new ways to discover ‘old’ music in 2025!” added the *Promiscuous Girl* creator, marveling at the lasting appeal of her songs through the years.
She went on to express her gratitude to “so many people who have rediscovered” her music, calling the experience “surreal and joyful.” Furtado said that meeting fans “up close” has made her “truly believe in magic.”
“I’ve enjoyed my career immensely and still love writing music, as I’ve always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to turn into a career,” she explained.
In closing, Furtado thanked “everyone who has listened to and been touched by my music, who has attended any of my shows,” as well as “everyone who has worked tirelessly to help me realize my dreams in pop music.”