Kid Laroi apologises to fans who paid $800 for cancelled meet-and-greet

Aussie singer Kid Laroi has apologised for angering concertgoers after cancelling a meet-and-greet following Sydney concert.

Aussie singing sensation The Kid Laroi has apologised for leaving fans out of pocket hundreds of dollars after his team abruptly cancelled a meet-and-greet due to take place directly after his Sydney concert this past weekend.

The Stay singer was scheduled to appear backstage with fans who paid $800 for the VIP experience, but instead his team pulled the plug despite ticketholders already queuing up for the event.

In a statement to news.com.au, the 21-year-old’s team explained that due to “unforeseen circumstances outside his control”, Laroi was unable to participate in the event.

“I’m deeply sorry for any disappointment this may have caused,” Laroi himself said in a statement via his team. “I love my fans and always look forward to connecting with them.”

The ARIA winner is said to be working with his team on something special for those who held the meet-and-greet passes, with each person set to receive an email by Friday, November 22 with further information.

@999george999

@The Kid LAROI. @Ticketek Australia i wonder what this emial is gonna be, another signed poster maybe? #kidlaroi#meetandgreet#kidlaroisydney#robbed

♬ original sound - George999

TikTok user George999 was among those in the line to meet the singer after his performance at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on Saturday, when he and other fans received a text message saying the meet-and-greet was cancelled.

“We were supposed to have meet and greet tickets for $800… After waiting in line for an hour, we got this message saying that from the delays, the meet-and-greet is going to be cancelled ,” he said in video posted to TikTok.

The TikToker shared that instead fans would be given a signed poster of the singer.

“Yeah, like that’s a great replacement,” he sarcastically added in the clip.

In the messages the fan shared from Laroi’s team, none of which mentioned an option to get a refund.

“This was all the information we got on the night and nothing about refunds or anything,” he said.

They were instructed to collect the signed poster at the VIP concierge box at the venue, only to be told in a follow-up message that posters will instead be mailed to fans via Australia Post.

“I think everyone was just worried about the f***ing refund. It's not about the signed poster,” he said.

A TikTok user expressed their frustrations on social media. Picture: George999/TikTok

The fans said they were told of the cancellation when they were already in the queue. Picture: George999/TikTok

Earlier that evening, the TikTok user said the 25,000 fans at the venue were also sent text messages saying that supporting act Quavo would not be appearing at the show because of “travel complications”.

Social media users were quick to rally around the fan, saying he has a right to be annoyed.

“hell no! $800 does not equate to a poster over a meet and greet I would be absolutely pissed,” one wrote, while another commented, “Very sloppy and unprofessional.”

“Honestly pathetic especially doing this to his home town of all venues,” added yet another, as one raged, “Cancelling the very expensive meet and greet to only be compensated by a signed poster, absolute joke. Ripping off your customers.”

Kid Laroi performed in front of a sellout crowd of 25,000 fans at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on October 16. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Despite the controversy, Kid Laroi – real name Charlton Howard – was praised by other concertgoers for his electrifying performance in front of the capacity crowd.

“Show was insane,” one fan commented on Instagram, while another wrote, “I was there on the floorr luved it.”

And this from another fan: “Thank You for making my boys first concert a memorable one. We all had the best time.”

Kid Laroi was also shared his gratitude to fans who showed him some love at the show, later sharing on Instagram, “LAST NIGHT I PLAYED MY BIGGEST HEADLINE SHOW EVER TO 25,000 PEOPLE IN MY HOMETOWN!!!! still does not feel real. thank you to everyone who showed up for me last night & thank you for showing love like nowhere else in the world!!!!! I LOVE YOU SYDNEY!!!!!!”

Originally published as Kid Laroi apologises to fans who paid $800 for cancelled meet-and-greet