Lionel Richie leaves 20,000 fans furious after canceling his show at Madison Square Garden an hour after it started
Lionel Richie leaves 20,000 fans furious after canceling his show at Madison Square Garden an hour after it started
- The soul singer, 74, was set to star alongside Earth Wind & Fire on Saturday night, but they called off the show after fans were already in the arena
- Instead of an apology, Richie just said he was “stupid” that he couldn’t be there
Lionel Richie left 20,000 fans furious and disappointed after canceling his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden an hour after it started.
The soul singer, 74, was set to star alongside Earth Wind & Fire on Saturday night, but they called the show off when fans were already in their seats waiting for the performance.
Richie blamed the “bad weather,” which meant he couldn’t land in New York.
The All Night Long singer had performed his Sing A Song All Night Long tour the night before in Boston – which is a four-hour drive from the Big Apple.
Instead of an apology, Richie just said he was “stupid” that he couldn’t be there.
Lionel Richie left 20,000 fans furious and disappointed after canceling his sold-out show at Madison Square Garden an hour after it started
At 8:31 p.m., an hour after he should have been on stage, Lionel Richie wrote, “Due to severe weather and not being able to land in New York and surrounding areas, I will not be able to make it to the show tonight. I’m so stupid.
We are moving the show to Monday, August 14. I can’t wait to perform for all of you. Tickets for tonight’s show are valid for Monday’s show.’
Tickets for Richie’s Monday show in the front section retail for over $500.
There were thunderstorms and torrential rain in New York City – but these weather fronts didn’t hit until the wee hours of Sunday morning, by which time Richie’s concert would have ended.
The cancellation enraged thousands of people – who pointed out that the singer would have made it to New York in other ways without flying.
Fans were booed at the iconic NYC venue when the announcement was made. Many had traveled long distances to see Richie at MSG.
One couple said they flew across the Atlantic just for the show — and were completely disappointed by Richie’s cancellation: “We flew from Ireland and were in MSG for two hours tonight.
“Heartbroken, can you please confirm that Earth Wind and Fire will play for the rescheduled concert on Monday.”
Another irate fan said, “After spending $1000 on two VIP tickets in one weekend, I hope we get our money back. Monday is not an option.
“We also spent $500 on a hotel and also spent several hundred dollars on food in the area. What a huge disappointment for my birthday!!!! Ugh.’
An irate fan wrote, “I CALL BULLS**T! YOU PLAYED IN BOSTON last night. 1.5 hours flight to NYC, 4 hours by bus.
‘THERE WERE NO CANCELLATIONS EARLY TODAY, YOU MUST BE IN NYC NO LATER THAN 2PM. THANK YOU FOR WASTE OUR TIME & MONEY FOR YOUR NO SHOW!’
The All Night Long singer had performed his Sing A Song All Night Long tour the night before in Boston – which is four hours from the Big Apple
Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind & Fire perform in Toronto, Ontario
Another added, “Damn fans are pissed they didn’t find out until they were already in their seats.”
And a third said, ‘That’s why you have contingency plans. Could have driven from Boston. Earth Wind and Fire made no problem of it.
20k fans made it too. Your staff made you look bad.”
One woman said she flew her elderly mother to New York for a birthday surprise. Now they can’t attend the rescheduled concert.
They said, ‘I flew to NYC with my mom for her 75th birthday, she wants to see you for the occasion.
‘Monday 14 Aug is not convenient for us when we fly home. So no concert on the milestone birthday. Pretty disappointed with this.’