The Weeknd in Bumbershoot Festival 2015, Seattle | Photo by Kayla Johnson via Wikimedia Commons
The Weeknd Cancels Rose Bowl Concert Amid LA Wildfires
The Weeknd has officially called-off his one-night-only show at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California later this month amid the ongoing, destructive wildfires in Los Angeles.
The gig was set to take place on Saturday, January 25 to celebrate the release of his sixth record, Hurry Up Tomorrow. However, the hip-hop star took to social media to explain that the concert haws been cancelled “out of respect and concern for the people of Los Angeles County.” The album release was also pushed back another week.
“This city has always been a profound source of inspiration for me, and my thoughts are with everyone impacted during this difficult time,” The Weeknd said. “In light of this, I have also decided to push the release of my album to Jan. 31st. My focus remains on supporting the recovery of these communities and aiding its incredible people as they rebuild.”
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, hasn’t released a record in two years. Hurry Up Tomorrow will follow 2022’s Dawn FM, which included smash-hits “Starry Eyes,” “Sacrifice,” and “Is There Someone Else?”
| LIST: Events Cancelled, Postponed Due to California Wildfires |
This is the latest concert cancellation amid the wildfires, which mark the most destructive fire in the city’s history. The largest blaze at this time is the Palisades Fire, burning between Malibu and Santa Monica. Other active fires include the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Hurst Fire and Lidia Fire in San Fernando Valley, and the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills.
While firefighters have slowed the progress of the fires over the weekend, the 14,000-acre Eaton fire is only 33% contained as of Monday morning, while the Palisades fire — covering 23,700 acres — is 14% contained. According to the New York Times, the Eaton fire has killed 16 people, making it one of the deadliest fires in California’s history. At least eight people have died in the Palisades blaze, while 16 people were reported missing in the areas of the two fires.
At this time, officials have warned that the fatalities will likely rise, though there is a hope of relief ahead; the National Weather Service reported that wind speeds are expected to drop on Thursday. Los Angeles fire chief Kristin M. Crowley noted that “we are not in the clear as of yet” and “we must not let our guard down.”
