Lionel Richie angers fans by canceling New York City concert an hour after it was meant to start, blaming 'severe weather'
- Lionel Richie angered fans Saturday night by canceling a show an hour after it was meant to start.
- Richie was set to perform to a sold-out crowd in New York City alongside Earth, Wind & Fire.
Lionel Richie angered fans on Saturday night when he canceled his concert in New York City an hour after it was meant to start and fans had already filled the venue.
Richie was set to perform to a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden alongside Earth, Wind & Fire.
Set to start at 7:30 p.m., Richie announced on Twitter at 8:31 p.m. that he was pulling the plug.
"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," Richie tweeted.
"I'm so bummed," he added. "We are rescheduling the show to Monday Aug. 14. Can't wait to perform for you all."
Unsurprisingly, many of Richie's fans were less than happy.
"Thank you so much for announcing this an hour after the show was supposed to start," one fan replied to his tweet.
Another wrote: "You've lost a fan. Personally I think you're full of it. How does a performer not be in the area that they contracted for by show time?"
"What actually happened?" tweeted one angry fan. "Nobody flies in late and blames weather. Weather was A OK. We are a group of 12 and so disappointed but not as disappointed as the tourists and fans who made plans around the gig and wil now miss it. What's the real, substantial and genuine reason?"
Representatives for Richie did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Deadline reported that Earth, Wind & Fire were scheduled to play a show at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut, without Richie on Monday.
However, the group's official website now lists that concert as happening on Wednesday and says they will play alongside Richie at Madison Square Garden on Monday.