Music
Rod Stewart Admits Concert Cancellation ‘Wasn’t a Good Look’ After Fan Backlash
Rod Stewart admits it was a bad look to cancel a concert and then attend a World Cup game, but he insists he needed to keep a promise to his sons.
“Maggie May” singer Rod Stewart has explained why he attended a recent World Cup game the day after canceling a concert. Stewart received a lot of backlash over the situation, and now he admits it was a “bad look.” Despite that, he stands by his decision.
Stewart, 81, canceled a June 12 performance in California just 40 minutes before it was supposed to begin, citing health reasons. The next day, he shared via Instagram that he was on his way to Boston with his sons to watch Scotland compete against Haiti in the World Cup.
Fans were not impressed.
The iconic ’70s singer broke his silence on the situation during a chat with talkSPORT on June 24.
“I really shouldn’t have gone to the Haiti game,” Stewart admitted.
He added, “I had to cancel the show the night before because I just had no voice left. But the truth is…I wasn’t going to let my two sons down.”
The singer explained, “I promised them since they were born that we’re going to go to a World Cup, and this is the first one that’s come about.”
“It wasn’t a good look, I admit, but I’m going to just have to take the stick. So, I did it for the boys.”
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Stewart’s team released a statement after the concert cancellation explaining that doctors advised Stewart to cancel as he navigated an acute upper respiratory infection and laryngitis.
Stewart also took to his Instagram Stories and shared a photo of himself on the empty stage at the amphitheater. He wrote, “Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not. I’m very disappointed and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to my fans.”
Stewart added he “did everything I could to make the show happen tonight, but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible.”
The subsequent Instagram post of Stewart’s showing him flying to the World Cup game sparked a flood of criticism from fans.
One comment read, “This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?”
“What an arrogant move! People have travelled, some like me, a long distance to Red Rocks only to have the concert cancelled an hour before the start. I guess when you’re 81 you don’t have to care about your fans,” another person wrote.
Someone else added, “My 3 sons took my 82 year old mother out of her nursing facility and drove to San Diego last night. Thanks for crushing an 82 year old and the 3 young men who wanted to share that moment with her. You suck.”
Will Stewart’s explanation about keeping a promise to his sons get him back in the good graces of critical fans? He seems to be standing by his decision, even as he admits it did not look good.
