"If you can party, you can also work" - every working person has probably heard this saying. Currently, global star Rod Stewart (81) is facing criticism behind this adage. The singer canceled a concert in San Diego, California, extremely short notice on Friday evening, citing illness as the reason. However, just one day later, he was sitting cheerfully in the stands at a World Cup match, as pictures show.
He canceled his concert at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre only about 40 minutes before it was set to begin. The organizers initially cited a sinus infection. Later, the musician announced that doctors had diagnosed an acute respiratory infection that had led to laryngitis.
The next day in a private jet
Stewart apologized on social media on Friday and promised a makeup concert. The performance was part of his farewell tour "One Last Time".
However, a video followed as early as Saturday morning that triggered the displeasure of many fans: In it, Stewart boards a private jet with his sons Liam and Alastair - destination Boston, where Scotland was playing against Haiti in the World Cup. "Here we are, flying to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup", he says, before chanting "No Scotland, no party!" with the two.
Fans doubt the illness
Many fans then questioned on social media how the singer could appear so fit after being unable to perform the day before. Footage from the game then showed him smiling and wearing Scottish colors in the stands - with two glasses of possibly alcoholic beverages reportedly in front of him.
"Too ill for a performance, but fit enough to fly across the country for a soccer game?", one user wrote. Another accused him of not caring about the thousands of disappointed fans he had let down shortly before showtime.
Management pushes back
The criticism has also reached the singer's management. However, a spokesperson defended the cancellation to the "San Diego Union-Tribune" and assured that the illness had been real. Stewart had received medical treatment in an attempt to still be able to perform. "He was [at the venue], but we had to communicate via text messages because he had no voice", the spokesperson said. The treatment had worked - but not in time for the show.
His next concert is scheduled for Monday at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Whether Stewart will have recovered by then and when San Diego will get its makeup concert remains to be seen.
