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Rob Stewart was slammed by fans for jetting off to attend Scotland’s FIFA World Cup match in Boston less than a day after the rocker canceled a concert in California due to health issues.
On Friday night, the 81-year-old singer called off his scheduled concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California near San Diego just 40 minutes ahead of the show’s start time.
In a statement to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the event’s producer Live Nation explained that the concert was canceled because Stewart had a recurrence of a sinus infection. However, Stewart’s team later told the outlet that the Grammy Award winner was suffering from an acute upper respiratory infection that led to laryngitis.
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Stewart apologized for the cancelation in posts that he shared to his Instagram Stories on Friday night, including a photo of himself on empty Chula Vista stage while crew members dismantled the concert set around him.
“Well, here I am in beautiful Chula Vista as the stage is being taken down around me. Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not,” he wrote, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“I’m very disappointed and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight, but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible. I will do my utmost to reschedule.”
On Saturday, Stewart shared a video in which he was seen on his private jet with his sons Liam, 31 and Alastair, 20.
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“Me and the boys off to Boston to see our Scotland 🏴 in the World Cup! No Scotland no party,” he wrote in the caption.
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In the clip, Stewart, who is a longtime supporter of Scotland’s national soccer team, noted that the match marked the country’s first World Cup appearance since 1998.
“It’s been 28 years, so these kids, I’ve told them about it but they’ve never been,” he said. “I’ve been to seven World Cups.”
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“So we want them to get through to the next round and I’ll die a happy man,” Stewart added with a smile. “That would be great. C’mon Scotland!”
Stewart ended the clip by dancing in his seat and joining Liam and Alastair as they repeatedly sang “No Scotland, no party!”
The “Maggie May” hitmaker was later seen with his sons as they watched Scotland play Haiti from the stands at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Stewart was pictured smiling, cheering and enjoying what appeared to be a couple of beverages during the game.
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However, Stewart’s video and appearance at the match sparked backlash with some fans venting their outrage in the comments section of his post.
“This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?” wrote one Instagram user.
“So you blew off all the people in San Diego that wanted to see you in concert but able to go to the world cup I see! I’m a huge fan of yours but I don’t think that’s cool,” added another.
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“I understand that shows sometimes have to be canceled, and if there was a legitimate reason, most fans would have accepted it,” one fan commented. “What’s hard to accept is seeing you apparently celebrating on a plane with friends less than 24 hours after thousands of people were sent home disappointed in San Diego.”
“Many traveled long distances, paid for hotels, parking, tickets, and took time off work to be there,” the social media user continued. “Then to see you flying across the country for a soccer game the very next morning makes the situation feel even more tone deaf. The cancellation was frustrating enough, but this comes across as incredibly dismissive of the fans who support your career. A little empathy and awareness would have gone a long way.”
However, others came to Stewart’s defense, noting that his illness affected his voice, not necessarily his ability to travel.
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“Get a grip people,” one fan wrote. “I know it’s disappointing and frustrating when someone cancels a show but that doesn’t mean their life, especially with their family, also stops. You can clearly hear in this video he is unwell by his voice and people have said he was unwell in previous concerts. I am a life long fan of Rod’s and I wouldn’t want him performing if it could possibly mean irreparable damage to his voice!!
“There’s a difference between watching a game and performing for two hours. Just saying,” another commented.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Stewart’s representatives for comment.
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A representative for Stewart told the San Diego Union-Tribune that they had spoken with the singer’s physician Friday night and stood by the reason given for the show’s cancellation.
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The spokesperson told the outlet that the singer underwent “a few rounds of steroids and treatment in the hopes of being able to perform.”
“He was there [at the venue] but we had to text because he had no voice,” the representative added. “Evidently, [the steroids] kicked in but too late for the show.”
Live Nation said Ticketmaster customers would automatically receive refunds following the cancellation, while fans who purchased tickets through third-party resale platforms were advised to contact their original seller regarding reimbursement.
The Chula Vista cancellation was the latest health-related setback for Stewart, who is currently on his “One Last Time” tour. In May, Stewart axed two Las Vegas residency performances while recovering from a sinus infection and undergoing vocal rest.
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