Sir Rod Stewart is facing a wave of criticism from fans after cancelling a concert in California due to illness, only to appear well enough the following day to travel to a FIFA World Cup game. The veteran singer pulled out of his scheduled performance at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheater in Chula Vista just hours before he was due on stage.
A statement posted on Stewart's official Instagram account attributed the cancellation to an 'acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis', advising that he was unable to perform on doctor's advice. The statement added that the 81-year-old had travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform.
However, the day after the cancelled show, Stewart shared a video on Instagram depicting him and his two sons on a private jet, reportedly en route to Boston to watch Switzerland's first group stage match in the World Cup. The post, captioned 'Me and the boys off to Boston to see our Scotland in the World Cup! No Scotland no party', quickly drew a significant backlash from disappointed fans.
The comments section of Stewart's post was inundated with messages from concert-goers who had made arrangements to see him perform. Many expressed feelings of being 'disingenuous' and 'dismissed', questioning how he could be too ill to sing but well enough to undertake cross-country travel for a football match. One fan wrote, "Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?" while another noted the perceived 'tone deaf' nature of celebrating on a plane so soon after thousands were sent home disappointed.
Amidst the widespread disapproval, a few fans offered support for Stewart, highlighting his age and previous instances where he reportedly performed whilst feeling unwell. Following the initial controversy, the 'Maggie May' artist later shared an image of himself on stage in the empty Chula Vista venue, reiterating that while he was 'feeling much better', his voice remained a struggle. UKPulse Media has reached out to Stewart's representatives for further comment on the situation.