The Kid LAROI‘s debut Australian tour has experienced more issues after the rapper’s first Melbourne show last Friday (3rd June) was cancelled half an hour after he was expected on stage.
Some in the 14,000-strong crowd reacted negatively when an announcement came through the speakers informing them the show was cancelled due to illness. LAROI later shared a statement on Instagram about the last-minute cancellation. “To say I’m sorry is an understatement,” he wrote at the time.
The rapper added that he’d woken up sick that morning, but after taking two negative COVID tests, continued to the venue (Rod Laver Arena) and carried on with a sound check, but that his health soon got worse, to the point he was unable to perform.
“I promise you with all my heart that I gave everything in me to try and get up on that stage tonight,” he wrote. “This is my first ever tour and I absolutely hate that I’ve had to do this, especially so last minute… but at the end of the day I have to put my health first and I would be lying to you if I told you I was okay to come up and perform for you.”
A second Melbourne show was scheduled for Saturday night (4th June), but that was also postponed, with LAROI saying he’d seen a doctor again and been told he couldn’t perform. “My heart is broken, and I feel like I am letting you all down again but I promise I will make it up to you,” he wrote in an Instagram Story. “I need to rest and get myself healthy so that I can give you the show you deserve when I come back to Melbourne next week.”
LAROI was also scheduled to play in Brisbane tonight, for the first of two consecutive shows at Riverstage. That was postponed yesterday, with LAROI saying his doctor had told him he needed one more day to get healthy. “It sucks that I have to do this and I hate disappointing you all, but I know I have to o it in order for me to give you the show that you want to see,” he wrote on social media.
Rescheduled dates for all three shows have now been announced. Tonight’s Brisbane show will now take place on Wednesday (8th June), with tomorrow night’s concert going ahead as planned. LAROI’s June 4 Melbourne show will now take place on Friday (10th June), while his June 5 show will take place on Sunday (12th June). Tickets for previously scheduled shows remain valid for new dates, with refunds available to be requested here for those who cannot attend the new shows.
The first half of LAROI’s tour – which included stops in his home city of Sydney along with Perth and Adelaide – was carried out successfully, including an appearance from ‘My City’ collaborators ONEFOUR at one of the Sydney shows. In addition to Brisbane and Melbourne, the rapper will also perform in Hobart this Saturday (11th June) as part of this year’s Dark Mofo program.
The Kid LAROI’s remaining 2022 Australian tour dates
Tuesday, 7th June – Riverstage, Brisbane
Wednesday, 8th June – Riverstage, Brisbane (rescheduled)
Friday, 10th June – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (rescheduled)
Saturday, 11th June MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
Sunday, 12th June – Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena (rescheduled)
