Sam Smith fans were horrified during the Manchester Arena power outage on Wednesday, six years after the tragic Ariana Grande concert was bombed at the same venue.
The 4 songs included in the set list, 31-year-old Smith, had a sound problem and left the stage and left the venue in the dark for 20 minutes.
Concert attendees were not told why Smith abruptly left the stage and were simply asked to leave the arena.
“@samsmith @AOArena ok I had my 13 year old son sit with me in the dark for 20 minutes and in the light for another 20 minutes, until the day almost terrible things happened and you really made us sit in the dark with hope. Sam is fine but very poorly handled,” wrote a contributor on social media.
Several people referred to the tragedy that occurred in the same arena in Manchester, England on May 22, 2017, in which 22 people who came to watch the 29-year-old Grande performance died.
“Looks like the lights are out, no immediate explanation. How scary for fans at AO Arena Manchester, just days after the 6th anniversary of losing 22 people. #SamSmith #Insensitive,” one person wrote.
Another interrupted, “He was very insensitive as the audience learned. Especially now that it’s been 6 years since the arena attacks! Keep them informed.”
Page Six reached the Manchester Arena for comment.
After the concert, the “Unholy” singer, who used the pronouns, took to social media to apologize to her fans, citing a virus that affected her vocals.
“I honestly don’t know what to say. I fought a virus a few weeks ago and since then we’ve traveled around Europe and put on incredible shows,” Smith wrote via Instagram Stories.
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“I felt good at Soundcheck today and was very excited to finally be putting on a great show in Manchester with a special surprise guest,” they added.
“During my third song, I noticed something wrong with my voice. I prayed that it was just my voice that woke up for the show, but I could sense something was really wrong with the fourth song.
Smith continued, telling fans that they left the stage and “tried everything” to get their voices back, but were unsuccessful.
They ended the message by saying, “Honestly, I’m so sorry I couldn’t finish tonight’s show for all of you.” “I love you all. I’m sorry sorry sorry sorry.”
Before the show, Smith made fun of a special guest whose identity was never revealed.
“We have a surprise for you tonight,” they wrote. twitter.
“’Unholy’ won’t be the last song…”
In the end, this wasn’t the last song as fans had to leave the arena and get refunds from their original point of purchase.
Smith canceled both shows in Glasgow and Birmingham following orders from his doctors.
A spokesperson for Smith’s said on Thursday, via the singer’s Instagram Story, “Doctors said Sam needed full vocal rest due to vocal cord damage.”
“Sam was heartbroken that he had to cancel these shows, but the doctors told them that if they continued to sing, they would permanently damage their voices.”
“If they get some rest, they’ll be able to perform again.”
Smith has also recently come under criticism for her racy performance with Kim Petras at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
The rendition of their hit single “Unholy” sparked the anger of many conservative politicians, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who called the performance “poor”.