Rod Stewart is facing major backlash after attending a World Cup match less than 24 hours after abruptly canceling a concert due to health reasons.
The 81-year-old singer had been scheduled to perform in Chula Vista, California, but canceled the show less than an hour before taking the stage. His team later announced that Stewart had been diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection that resulted in laryngitis, leaving him unable to perform.
Fans were disappointed, but many initially sympathized with the legendary rocker.Then came the twist.
The very next day, Stewart posted a video from a private jet alongside his sons Liam and Alastair, excitedly announcing they were heading to Boston to watch Scotland compete in the FIFA World Cup. Hours later, he was photographed cheering in the stands, celebrating Scotland’s victory over Haiti and appearing to be in high spirits.
The internet immediately exploded.
“Too ill to perform but healthy enough to fly across the country for soccer?” one fan wrote. Another called the move “tone-deaf,” pointing out that thousands of fans had traveled, booked hotels, and spent money only to have the concert canceled at the last minute.
Others rushed to Stewart’s defense.
Supporters argued that laryngitis affects a singer’s voice, not necessarily their ability to travel or watch a sporting event. Several fans also noted that Stewart sounded noticeably hoarse in the video and said there is a huge difference between sitting in a stadium and performing a two-hour concert.
Stewart himself has insisted he did everything possible to make the show happen. He said he underwent multiple treatments and was already at the venue when doctors advised him not to perform because his voice simply wasn’t there.
Still, the optics have proven difficult to ignore.
This is now the latest in a string of health-related cancellations for the singer, who has postponed or canceled several performances in recent months while battling illnesses including the flu and sinus infections.
