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Rod Stewart Draws Fire for World Cup Appearance After Last-Minute Concert Cancellation

Stewart's team says steroid treatment for laryngitis took effect only after the show was called off.

Overview

  • Late Friday the singer canceled his Chula Vista show about 40–45 minutes before he was due on stage, citing an acute upper respiratory infection that left him without a usable voice.
  • Stewart posted an apology saying he felt better after treatment but still could not sing and his spokesperson told reporters he had undergone several rounds of steroids.
  • Hours after the cancellation, Stewart posted video of himself boarding a private jet and was photographed at Scotland's World Cup match in Foxborough the next day, which triggered widespread criticism.
  • Fans and critics said the timing felt tone-deaf because many had traveled and paid for hotels and tickets, while promoters have begun processing refunds and a rescheduled Chula Vista date has not been set.
  • The episode highlights tensions on Stewart's 'One Last Time' farewell tour—he is 81 and vocal-rest decisions can be unpredictable—and it could increase scrutiny of late cancellations and of how teams communicate medical and logistical decisions to ticket holders.