Chaos as The Kid Laroi cancels huge Melbourne show

There were chaotic scenes as rap sensation The Kid Laroi cancelled a huge arena show on Friday night – and he pulled the pin on Saturday night’s too.

WARNING: Strong language

Australian rap sensation The Kid Laroi pulled the pin on his Melbourne arena show on Friday night – almost 40 minutes after he was meant to take the stage.

And the star has today cancelled tonight’s planned Melbourne show, with a statement revealing he’s been diagnosed with the flu and must rest up “on doctor’s orders.”

The Herald Sun reports that the 18-year-old hit maker was meant to take the stage at 9pm but cancelled the show at 9.35pm due to illness, leaving a capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena fuming.

One fan captured the mood inside the 14,000-capacity arena as it was announced the show was not going ahead in a video that was posted to social media.

“Huge apologies for that, but obviously it’s outside anyone’s control … please travel safe,” the announcer can be heard saying, as boos ring out through the arena.

Another concertgoer posted a short video showing the mood in the car park as people tried to leave the venue. “Everyone’s raging … everyone’s honking their horns ‘cos they’re pissed,” she said.

Kid laroi concert was cancelled, so here is the car park afterwards 🌝 pic.twitter.com/H14fvlWFvN

— Jazzy Whyte (@Jazzywhyteee) June 3, 2022

The Herald Sun reported that some angry concertgoers also pelted cups of beer across the arena. Others vented their frustrations on social media:

look I’m no musician myself, but surely you’d realise way before 40 minutes after your were supposed to start ur gig that you were too sick to go on??? kid laroi breaking lots of hearts tonight.

— Tricia Mifsud (@triciamifsud) June 3, 2022

I miss the dogs game to go to Kid Laroi all for him to cancel after 2 hours of waiting. So horrible

— George (@george__812) June 3, 2022

Imagine @thekidlaroi cancelling his Melbourne show 40 mins AFTER IT WAS MEANT TO START 😡 if you’re too sick at the sound check, you’re going to be sick for the show! Should’ve said something earlier 🤬🤬

— Minsx (@mybackhurtssos) June 3, 2022

Aaaaand after 40 mins it was announced Kid Laroi was cancelled due to illness. Crowd started a chant of “bullshit”

— Sian Cain (@siancain) June 3, 2022

thought i should let everyone know i had a cup of beer thrown at me after the kid laroi cancelled lolz

— amber 🦇 (@everglooms) June 3, 2022

Lmao kid laroi cancelled after us waiting two hours

— мιкαуℓα (@mikaylajanee1) June 3, 2022

Some even accused the star of being hungover, after it was reported he made a surprise appearance at Melboune nightclub 170 Russell St - also known as Billboard - late on Thursday night:

kid laroi cancelling his show after a rowdy night at billboards. He really is a man of the people because we’ve all chucked a sickie at 18 after a night at boards

— claire (@cloxic) June 3, 2022

Kid Laroi cancelling a show 30 minutes after hit set time from a luckys hangover is big dick energy. I aspire to put this level of misery and annoyance into the world.

— bones (@bonestaylr) June 3, 2022

2.5hr drive to get here and 3hrs in the arena to find out Kid Laroi’s hungover from Billboards last night and has postponed his show, raginggg #KidLaroi#KidLaroiMelbourne#KidLaroiPostponed

— Alanah Bennett (@AlanahBanana98) June 3, 2022

In a lengthy message posted to his Instagram stories last night, Laroi – real name Charlton Howard – apologised to fans and explained that illness was the cause of the last-minute cancellation.

The teen star revealed that he’d been feeling sick all day but felt worse after arriving at the venue and performing a soundcheck – with his team calling in doctors who put him on an IV drip.

The Kid Laroi performing at Qudos Bank Arena during an earlier night of the tour. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

“I promise you with all my heart that I gave everything in me to try and get up on that stage tonight,” he wrote.

He also vowed to reschedule the show for disappointed ticketholders.

The Kid Laroi posted this apology on Instagram.

“I will keep you updated on the rescheduled show date. I am coming back to perform this Melbourne show. I’m sorry.”

At lunchtime today, The Kid Laroi announced he’d also be cancelling tonight’s planned show at Rod Laver Arena, having been diagnosed with influenza.

“I love you all more than life itself, and it kills me that I have to postpone tonight. This is my first time touring and I’m discovering lots of new things about my body that I didn’t know before. I’m doing everything I can now to take care of myself and make sure I’m good to come back and give you all the show that you deserve.”

Both Melbourne shows will be rescheduled to next week. The Friday 3 June show will be rescheduled to next Friday 10 June and the Saturday 4 June show will be rescheduled to next Sunday 12 June. All existing tickets remain valid, but ticketholders can also seek refunds if they’re unable to make the new dates.

The Sydney-born star has become one of Australia’s biggest musical success stories in recent years, topping the charts here and in the US with hits like the Justin Bieber duet Stay and the Miley Cyrus duet Without You.

The Kid Laroi’s Australian tour is now due to continue on Monday with two dates in Brisbane and another in Hobart next week all expected to go ahead before he returns to Melbourne for the rescheduled dates.

Originally published as Chaos as The Kid Laroi cancels huge Melbourne show