Recording artist Lionel Richie took the stage Monday night at Madison Square Garden, apologizing again for postponing the concert originally scheduled for Saturday.
The 74-year-old singer ignited a firestorm with fans over the weekend when he announced the cancellation of his concert one hour after it was supposed to begin. Many concertgoers took to social media to voice their frustration with Richie for waiting so long to tell them the show wasn’t happening.
The “All Night Long” singer blamed bad weather for postponing the concert, which he reiterated from the stage during Monday’s show.
“I had two ‘no’s to come at the same time. And when those two decided it’s a no – when God says no and when the pilot says no, the answer … I tried to bribe the pilot,” Richie can be heard telling fans Monday night in a video recording, per Fox News.
“And the pilot said, ‘I do want to see my wife tomorrow.’ So tonight we are going to make up for that. I apologize for that a thousand times,” he said.
Fans had questioned Richie using the weather as the excuse for not making it to the show. The musician attempted to fly to New York from Boston, prompting at least one fan to complain he should have driven there instead.
Richie initially shared the news of the show’s postponement on X.
“Due to severe weather and being unable to land in the NY and surrounding areas, I’m unable to make it to the show tonight. I’m so bummed,” he wrote. “We are rescheduling the show to Monday Aug 14. Can’t wait to perform for you all. Tickets for tonight’s show are valid for the show on Monday.”
“Come on, the weather has been fine all day in NJ & NY. At least dignify us with the real reason you decided not to show,” one person replied to Richie’s original post.
“Unbelievable! Ever think of driving from Boston to New York??” another person wrote.
“When the ‘weather excuse’ feels cloudier than the actual sky… Why no heads-up before we crammed the auditorium? C’mon press team, all of us and countless fans are waiting for the real story,” another person said.
