Justin Timberlake, once the undisputed Prince of Pop, is facing a bit of a crisis.
Lukewarm reviews, disappointing ticket sales, and now a very public cancellation have plagued his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, leaving fans seeing red.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’S TOUR
Justin Timberlake’s team called off the final show of the U.S. leg in Columbus, Ohio, at the last minute, according to Page Six.
Timberlake cited illness as the reason, leaving fans who had travelled and spent their hard-earned cash feeling utterly gutted.
“You guys, I’m heartbroken, I have to cancel the show tonight,” the 44-year-old singer announced on Instagram.
He claimed he’d been battling the flu during soundcheck and it had finally “gotten the best of me.” But fans weren’t buying it.
FANS REACT STRONGLY
“Cancelling because of being sick is 100% understandable,” one fan vented. “Cancelling 10 minutes before the doors were to open is unacceptable.”
Another person added, “They canceled the show at 7:30, just 30 minutes before it was supposed to start at 8:00. Little kids stood in line, devastated by the cancellation.”
Shame on you.”
The anger is understandable.
Imagine spending money on tickets, accommodation, and travel, only to hear moments before the show starts that it’s canceled.
Many fans had travelled hours and booked hotels to see Justin Timberlake.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’S TOUR PROBLEMS
Some were even repeat offenders, having had a previous Columbus show cancelled due to Timberlake’s laryngitis, according to Daily Mail.
Ticketmaster has promised refunds, which should appear in accounts within 14-21 days. However, for those who travelled, the refund won’t cover additional expenses.
One fan lamented, “This is the 2nd time this has happened and there’s not even a reschedule.
We drove 3 hours and paid for a hotel room, and you tell us 5 minutes before it starts that it’s cancelled.” The cancellation adds to a string of recent woes for Timberlake.
THE DWI ARREST
A DWI arrest earlier this year in Sag Harbour, New York, brought unwanted attention. His mugshot did the rounds on social media, according to The Argus.
He even reportedly told the arresting officer, “This is gonna screw up the tour.” Critics have slammed the tour.
One review slammed Timberlake for performing too many new, unfamiliar songs instead of the hits fans wanted to hear.
“He performed 11 songs from his 2024 album, Everything I Thought It Was. Even though hardly anyone bought or even cared about the album,” wrote one unimpressed critic.
Not everyone is unsympathetic.
LIFE HAPPENS
One fan, @astro_kianna, defended Timberlake. “For all you weirdos in the comments getting mad at him, remember that he doesn’t make these decisions lightly.”
“We’ve all faced cancellations before, and sometimes we can’t do anything about it.” That’s life. Being rude to Justin doesn’t solve anything in this moment.”
Justin Timberlake will kick off his overseas festival run at Lollapalooza Argentina 2025 on March 25.
South African fans will be watching closely to see if he can turn things around and revive his flagging career.
After all, everyone loves a good comeback story, especially if there’s a bit of “SexyBack” involved.
DO YOU THINK ARTISTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR FANS, EVEN WHEN THEY’RE NOT FEELING 100%
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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