Lady Gaga has announced that she is postponing the European leg of her Joanne World Tour due to suffering from severe physical pain.
The singer, who recently spoke about her battle with Fibromyalgia, is set to reschedule the dates for early next year. In a statement, tour promoters Live Nation said: “Lady Gaga is suffering from severe physical pain that has impacted her ability to perform. She remains under the care of expert medical professionals who recommended the postponement earlier today.”
“Lady Gaga is devastated that she has to wait to perform for her European fans. She plans to spend the next seven weeks proactively working with her doctors to heal from this and past traumas that still affect her daily life, and result in severe physical pain in her body. She wants to give her fans the best version of the show she built for them when the tour resumes. Lady Gaga sends her love to all her fans across Europe and thanks them for their support and understanding.”
Sharing the statement on Twitter, Lady Gaga also issued her own message to fans. “I have always been honest about my physical and mental health struggles. Searching for years to get to the bottom of them. It is complicated and difficult to explain, and we are trying to figure it out,” she said.
Revealing that she plans to tell her story in full one day, she continued: “As I get stronger and when I feel ready, I will tell my story in more depth, and plan to take this on strongly so I can not only raise awareness, but expand research for others who suffer as I do, so I can help make a difference. I use the word ‘suffer’ not for pity, or attention, and have been disappointed to see people online suggest that I’m being dramatic, making this up, or playing the victim to get out of touring. If you knew me, you would know this couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“I’m a fighter. I use the word suffer not only because trauma and chronic pain have changed my life, but because they are keeping me from living a normal life. They are also keeping me from what I love the most in the world: performing for my fans,” she added. “I am looking forward to touring again soon, but I have to be with my doctors right now so I can be strong and perform for you all for the next 60 years or more. I love you so much.”
To my fans, I love you so much. pic.twitter.com/g2BmmSx02v
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) September 18, 2017
The six-week European leg was due to kick off in Barcelona on September 21, stopping in various cities which included five UK dates. Fans are being told to hold on to their existing tickets until the rescheduled dates have been confirmed.
Lady Gaga was recently forced to cancel two shows, Rock in Rio Festival and her Montreal tour date, due to her ongoing ill health.