It appears that Lionel Richie is not so popular with his New York fans right now…
The anticipation was high for the singing legend’s sold-out Madison Square Garden performance, which was set to wow fans with a guest appearance from Earth Wind & Fire.
However, the show was abruptly canceled, an hour past its scheduled start time, due to adverse weather conditions preventing the singer’s flight into New York City.
The disappointment of the 20,000-strong crowd, some of whom had invested significantly in tickets and hotel rooms, was palpable as they expressed frustration at the iconic artist for the extended wait.
In a tweet at 8:31 p.m., the ‘Endless Love‘ singer said that the cancellation was to “severe weather and being unable to land in the NY and surrounding areas.” He announced a rescheduled date, aiming to take the stage on Monday, August 14, assuring fans that their existing tickets for the canceled show would be valid.
Inside the packed arena, videos spread on social media, showing disheartened fans booing and congregating in the aisles as a spokesperson revealed the cancellation news.
While Earth Wind and Fire are set to perform without Richie at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Monday, the plans for their participation at Madison Square Garden are still unclear.
The cancellation sparked a range of emotions among the audience, with some people paying as much as $170 for nosebleed seats. Others had gone to a lot of trouble to head to New York for the weekend, and were furious that they would not be able to go to the rescheduled show.
One couple told the New York Post: “You can’t sell out Madison Square Garden and [cancel due to] a weather issue. I’m frustrated and I’m concerned — I think it might be something else. I’m worried that it’s something else and that [the weather] was an excuse.”
Social media platforms lit up with fans expressing their dismay – one Twitter user wrote: “Press team lies. What actually happened? Nobody flies in late and blames weather. Weather was A OK. We are a group of 12 and so disappointed but not as disappointed as the tourists and fans who made plans around the gig and will now miss it. What’s the real, substantial and genuine reason?”
Another added: “Sounds like bad planning on your part @LionelRichie, trying to fly in at the last minute. I’ll take a refund please – no thx to Monday!”
In the midst of the uproar, some fans used Richie’s own lyrics to express their frustration, including saying they were “waiting all night long,” in reference to his 1983 hit ‘All Night Long‘.
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