Add The California Post on Google Fans blasted rock icon Rod Stewart after he was spotted cheering on Scotland at a FIFA World Cup match less than a day after abruptly canceling a California concert because of an illness.
The 81-year-old singer scrapped his scheduled Friday night show at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in San Diego just 40 minutes before he was due to take the stage.
Organizers initially cited a sinus infection, while the star later said doctors diagnosed him with an acute upper respiratory infection that caused laryngitis.
Stewart apologized to fans in a social media post Friday and said he hoped to reschedule the performance, which was part of his One Last Time farewell tour.
But the singer quickly found himself facing criticism after posting a video Saturday morning showing himself boarding a private jet with sons Aidan and Alastair en route to Boston to watch Scotland play Haiti in the World Cup.
“Here we are flying off to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup,” Stewart said in the clip, before joining his sons in singing, “No Scotland, no party!”
The post sparked outrage among some fans, who questioned how Stewart appeared energetic and vocally strong after saying he had been unable to perform the night before.
Photos and videos circulating online from the match appeared to show Stewart smiling in the stands while wearing Scottish colors. In one image shared widely on social media, two glasses of what appeared to be alcoholic beverages could be seen in front of him.
A representative for Stewart defended the cancellation, telling The San Diego Union-Tribune that the singer’s medical condition was genuine.
The representative said Stewart had received “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.”
The explanation did little to calm frustrated fans.
“Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?” Instagram user @rhinorunsandwines wrote beneath Stewart’s post.
Another commenter, @grampbearkimlee, criticized the timing of the video, writing: “Why does he post this after disappointing 10-15K fans? … Almost seems to be intentional. Surely does not care that his fans were truly disappointed and just 45 minutes before start time last night.”
Stewart is next scheduled to perform Monday at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, leaving fans wondering whether the singer has fully recovered — and whether San Diego concertgoers will eventually get the makeup show he promised.
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