Rod Stewart fans are angry after the legendary singer canceled his recent California gig, citing health issues, only to appear well enough the following day to travel to Boston for Switzerland’s return to the FIFA World Cup.
Just hours before he was scheduled to take the stage Friday at North Island Credit Union Amphitheater in Chula Vista, the “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” singer-songwriter, 81, pulled out of the show.
“Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California,” a statement posted on his official Instagram account read. “He traveled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take to the stage this evening.”
However, the next day, the British artist posted an Instagram video showing him and his two sons on a private jet, en route to watch Switzerland take on Qatar in their first group stage game. “Me and the boys off to Boston to see our Scotland in the World Cup!” he wrote in the caption. “No Scotland no party.”
The post’s comment section was flooded with disapproving messages from numerous fans who had planned to see him in concert that weekend.
“I’ve seen him 9 times. Yesterday would have been 10. Super excited until I wasn’t. I get it. It happens. But his trip and ‘party’ time for his beloved soccer shows maybe he isn’t thinking about his next show and how his health will be,” one disgruntled fan wrote. “A bit rude, insensitive, let’s call it, to all of us who may have inconvenienced our lives to make sure we were there to show him how much we love him. Sad to end my run with him laughing about his beloved soccer.”
“This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night,” a second argued. “Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?”
“What’s hard to accept is seeing you apparently celebrating on a plane with friends less than 24 hours after thousands of people were sent home disappointed in San Diego,” a third noted, adding that many eager fans had traveled long distances to see him in concert. “Then to see you flying across the country for a soccer game the very next morning makes the situation feel even more tone deaf. The cancellation was frustrating enough, but this comes across as incredibly dismissive of the fans who support your career. A little empathy and awareness would have gone a long way.”
“Hey Rod, lost a little respect for you canceling your concert the night before disappointing a stadium full of people… Hard to believe you really had laryngitis!” a fourth said.
One defended Stewart’s choice, recalling that they recently saw him in Las Vegas, where he “looked like he was not feeling well,” but still managed to “push through.”
“He’s 81 and still put on a hell of a show, even when he was under the weather,” they said. “I hope he and his kids have a fabulous damn time.”
The Independent has contacted Stewart’s representative for comment.
Following his initial cancellation post, the “Maggie May” artist later shared a picture of himself standing on stage in the empty venue, telling fans that while he was “feeling much better,” his voice was still struggling.
“Well here I am in beautiful Chula Vista as the stage is being taken down around me,” he wrote.
“Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not,” Stewart continued. “I’m very disappointed and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to my fans. I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight, but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible. I will do my utmost to reschedule.”
