Usher has postponed his tour to give his body “a second” to “rest and heal”.
The singer – born Usher Raymond IV – who is renowned for his gruelling fitness regime ahead of gigs, has left fans infuriated when he announced the postponement of his ‘Past, Present, and Future’ tour on Wednesday – hours before he was set to take the stage on its opening night in Atlanta.
He told his followers in an online announcement he needed his “body a second to rest and heal”, adding:
“For my 30 plus year career, 100% of my blood, sweat and tears has gone into putting on the best performance and creating a memorable experience for my fans.
“I have every intention of doing that for this tour as well which is why I have decided to postpone tonight’s show and reschedule it for a later date to give my body a second to rest and heal.”
Usher went on his announcement posted on Instagram Stories: “You’re still going to get a bit of the past, some of the present, and a unique look into the future on the rescheduled date but you’ll also be getting 100% of me.
“The last thing I want to ever do is disappoint you, the fans who have been eagerly waiting for this tour to start. However, I wouldn’t be the entertainer that I am if I can’t physically give you my best.”
He concluded: “I can’t wait to celebrate this legacy with you.”
Fans hit out at the singer, with many saying they had already travelled to see him.
Usher’s announcement comes after he axed his Lovers and Friends festival hours before showtime.
The decision was blamed on bad weather, with organisers of the Las Vegas event saying at the time: “Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers and Friends Festival.
“This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision to make as we are aware that fans have travelled from all over the world to enjoy this incredible lineup of superstars and have been looking forward to this event for several months.
“We’ve worked hard to create an amazing event for you, and we are just as disappointed as you are.”
BANG Showbiz