Entertainment
Lewis Capaldi announces break after emotional Glastonbury set
Singer Lewis Capaldi has announced he will be taking a break from touring “for the foreseeable future”, saying he is “still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s.”
It comes after the star struggled during his set at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend, with fans in the crowd singing for him as he stopped on stage during his hit song Someone You Loved.
Sharing an update on social media, Capaldi said it had been “the most difficult decision of my life”, but his performance on the Pyramid Stage had made it “obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order” to be able to keep doing “everything I love for a long time to come”.
The 26-year-old singer had previously cancelled three weeks of shows to rest and recover ahead of the festival.
On stage, he repeatedly apologised for losing his voice, and told fans they probably would not “see much of me for the rest of the year”.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, he thanked “Glastonbury for having me, for singing along when I needed it and for all the amazing messages afterwards”, adding: “It really does mean the world.”
“The fact that this probably won’t come as a surprise probably doesn’t make it any easier to write, but I’m very sorry to let you know I’m going to be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future,” Capaldi said.
“I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I’d hoped 3 weeks away would sort me out. But the truth is I’m still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come.”
‘Incredibly sorry’
The star went on to acknowledge being “incredibly fortunate” to be able to take time out “when others can’t”, and said he wanted to thank his “amazing” family, friends, team, medical professionals “and all of you who’ve been so supportive every step of the way through the good times and even more so during this past year when I’ve needed it more than ever”.
Capaldi had gigs and festival appearances in Australia, Asia and Europe planned throughout the year, including a performance in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday.
He apologised to those with tickets to all his shows, saying he was “incredibly sorry” but needs “to feel well to perform at the standard you all deserve”.
Capaldi finished by saying: “Playing for you every night is all I’ve ever dreamed of so this has been the most difficult decision of my life. I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. All my love, always, Lewis.”
The singer recently admitted on an Apple Music show that his mental health issues were a “direct symptom” of his work, and shared his struggle with Tourette’s in the Netflix documentary, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.
He said “a few panic attacks” and his Tourette’s diagnosis were worth the trade-off for a pop star’s life, but admitted he could give up music if his mental health worsened.
Read more:
Understanding Tourette’s
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Capaldi recently shared his story in the How I’m Feeling Now documentary. Pic: Netflix
On stage at Glastonbury on Saturday, the Scottish star admitted he was having voice issues in the run-up to performing his chart-topping ballad Someone You Loved.
“I’m going to be honest everybody, but I’m starting to lose my voice up here, but we’re going to keep going and we’re going to go until the end,” he told the crowd. “I just need you all to sing with me as loud as you can if that’s okay?”
As he struggled to hit the notes, the huge audience roused to help him by singing back as he watched on, clearly emotional.
Artists who have cancelled events due to health issues
Capaldi joins a growing list of stars prioritising their mental and physical health over shows and performances. Earlier this year, Justin Bieber cancelled the remainder of his world tour following ongoing health issues, and also called off shows in 2017 to focus on his mental health.
Last year, Shawn Mendes axed shows in the UK, North America and Europe, telling fans he had been advised by health professionals, and Demi Lovato is another star who has put off shows and spoken about her mental health struggles.
Selena Gomez cancelled shows in 2016 due to anxiety and depression, while at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, star US gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of the team event due to concerns for her mental health.