Usher is turning fans against himself.
Usher was originally scheduled to kick off his "Past Present Future" tour on Wednesday evening in Atlanta. However, the US singer had to cancel the show at the last minute. In a statement, he explained that he needed to recover from an injury, which left his fans furious.
American R&B singer Usher has disappointed his fans by canceling his first "Past Present Future" tour performance in Atlanta on Wednesday evening, just a few hours before it was set to begin. Although he provided a reason for the cancellation in a lengthy statement posted on Instagram, many fans feel that it's too late.
"I've dedicated 100% of my blood, sweat, and tears over my 30-year career to delivering the best performance and giving my fans an unforgettable experience," Usher wrote in the statement. "I intended to do the same on this tour, but I have to postpone tonight's show to a later date to give my body time to rest and heal."
Usher reassured fans that they would still get "something from the past, something from the present, and a unique look into the future" at the rescheduled show, but he also expressed his regret for disappointing them. "The last thing I want to do is let down the fans who have been eagerly awaiting the start of this tour," he said. According to Variety, Usher is recovering from an unspecified injury.
While some fans understand Usher's situation, many of those who were planning to attend the show on Wednesday are furious. "As a fan for 30 years, I have a right to my feelings," one fan commented. "I made arrangements for a babysitter, car rental, gas, hotel, work, hair, nails, etc. If he's sick, I understand, but I still have costs!"
Many fans who took time off work to attend the concert are especially upset, as American workers do not have a legal right to paid vacation and many do not receive any paid time off. "I took off for absolutely nothing," several fans commented. "This is crazy. The industry needs to figure out how to reschedule concerts better... if I didn't live here, I'd be pissed."
One fan wrote, "I drove hours to see you tonight. All the rehearsal videos you posted (...) and now you're postponing the opening night? You had since February to get everything ready. I'm very upset. You knew this since last night, but I bet you're doing the concerts on Friday and Saturday." Another fan simply said, "Get an IV and move your ass!"
It is currently unclear whether the two remaining shows scheduled for this weekend at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta will go ahead as planned. After that, the tour is set to continue with additional shows in the US and Canada in the fall, with European dates scheduled for 2025, including stops in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. The Berlin shows are scheduled for May 1, 2, and 4 at the Uber Arena.
Despite the cancellation of the Atlanta show, Usher's fans are still eagerly anticipating 'The entertainment' he promised, with unique elements from his past, present, and future, at the rescheduled concert.
Fans who had to take time off work to attend the original show express their frustration, as they feel they were let down and have incurred significant costs, highlighting the lack of legal protections for American workers without paid time off.
