2 months ago
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R&B icon Usher has cancelled all of his Australian tour dates just months after announcing what was going to be his first tour down under in over a decade.
A statement was posted on the Ticketek website on Friday, stating that the promoter of Usher’s Australian tour “regrets to advise that the scheduled shows to take place in November/December will no longer be proceeding”. A Live Nation spokesperson confirmed none of the shows would be going ahead.
Yeah! No. Usher will not be returning down under later this year.Credit: Getty Images
No specific reason for the cancellation was cited.
In March, the My Boo singer shared news of the Australian leg of his Past, Present, Future tour on Instagram, telling fans he would be “bringing the A to the AUS” later this year. He was scheduled to perform six shows at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena between November 19 to 26, and another six shows at Sydney’s Qudos Arena between December 1 and 11. Tickets went on sale in May, less than two months ago.
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According to the Ticketek website, those who bought tickets will automatically receive full refunds, and no action is required from them. Notably, Ticketek is only responsible for the sale of tickets.
“Customers should allow approximately 30 business days for the refund to appear in their account,” it read. “Customers who purchased tickets at a Ticketek agency or using Ticketek gift vouchers have been contacted to the email address of their Ticketek account to request additional information so we can process your refund.”
Those who bought their tickets via Ticketek also received this information in an email sent on Friday afternoon.
It has been nearly 14 years since Usher’s previous tour in Australia – the OMG tour in 2011. Demand appeared to be strong for his upcoming tour, which has already taken place in the US and Europe, as the promoter added four additional shows to the schedule after the presale in May.
Fans have already taken to social media to express their disappointment. Others, though also disappointed, are not as surprised. Popular ticketing tips TikToker Jacinda Chenelle said they were “overzealous with the number of shows they were doing” and with the amount they were charging for tickets.
On the upper end, Usher’s “Ultimate Meet and Greet VIP Lounge Experience” cost $2792.85, and premium reserve seating was $530.05. Meanwhile, cheaper seats were marked at around $220.
In August last year, the eight-time Grammy winner had to postpone several shows during the US leg of his Past, Present, Future tour due to a neck injury he sustained during rehearsals. However, he continued to perform after making a full recovery. There is no indication that the previous injury is connected to the recent cancellation.
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