Sir Rod Stewart has come under fire from fans after attending a World Cup football match just hours after cancelling a scheduled concert due to illness.
The 81-year-old singer sparked criticism on social media after posting footage of himself travelling to Boston on a private jet and celebrating Scotland’s 1-0 victory over Haiti at the tournament on Saturday, less than 24 hours after pulling out of a concert in San Diego, California.
The appearance prompted some fans to question how the rock legend was well enough to travel across the country for a football match after citing health issues for cancelling a live performance.
Fans criticise Rod Stewart’s World Cup trip
Stewart shared a video on Instagram showing himself and his sons chanting “No Scotland, No Party” while travelling to the game.
The post quickly attracted criticism from disappointed concertgoers, with several fans accusing the singer of being insensitive to those affected by the cancellation.
One fan wrote:
“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.”
Another commented:
“This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?”
A third fan criticised what they described as a lack of consideration for supporters who had incurred travel and accommodation costs to attend the cancelled concert.
Concert cancelled due to laryngitis
The controversy stems from Stewart’s decision to cancel his San Diego performance on Friday night less than an hour before he was due to take the stage.
In a statement shared on Instagram, representatives for the singer revealed he had been diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection that had resulted in laryngitis.
The singer later updated fans on his condition and apologised for the cancellation.
“Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not.
“I’m very disappointed and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight.”
Recent health issues have disrupted tour schedule
The cancelled San Diego concert is the latest in a series of recent schedule changes for Stewart.
Over the past month, the singer has postponed or cancelled several performances while recovering from flu-related illness and allowing his voice additional time to recover.
While some fans questioned the optics of his World Cup appearance, others pointed out that laryngitis can prevent a singer from performing while still allowing them to travel and attend events.
Rod Stewart’s next show remains scheduled
Despite the backlash, Stewart remains scheduled to continue his tour with a performance at Colorado’s famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
The concert is currently set to take place on Monday 15 June, with fans awaiting confirmation that the singer’s voice has recovered sufficiently for him to return to the stage.
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