Lightning strikes twice for Ed Sheeran as thunderstorm forces singer to cancel another Hong Kong gig following 2017 no-show
- Singer cancelled tour two years ago after injuring his arms in cycling accident
- ‘So sorry people have come out, waited in the rain, just for no show,’ Sheeran posted on social media
Ed Sheeran’s fans were left waiting in the rain as the singer’s second outdoor concert at Hong Kong Disneyland was called off at short notice on Thursday night because of a thunderstorm.
The Thinking Out Loud star had been expected to perform in front 20,000 people for the second of two major concerts at the theme park’s Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue, an exposed site with little shelter, but a thunderstorm, high winds and lashing rain saw the event cancelled.
Fans started arriving at the venue after gates opened at 4pm, with rainfall beginning around 6pm.
Sheeran refund news not music to ears of his Hong Kong fans
Show promoter AEG announced about 8pm that support act, One OK Rock, would not be performing “due to the current weather”, but “the rest of the show will continue as soon as possible”.
Sheeran posted a message on Instagram at 8pm, saying: “Sorry about the delay. It’s out of hands, we have to wait for the lightning to pass for safety reasons. Apologies again.”
He added the crew had been ready for the show to start.
Organisers distributed free plastic ponchos, though attendees were left stood in the exposed site with little shelter from the elements.
The first thunderstorm warning of the day was issued at 5.05pm by the Hong Kong Observatory and at 7pm was extended to 9.30pm.
An Amber rain warning also came into force during the evening signalling 30 millimetres of rain per hour while in effect. Hongkongers were also instructed to expect gusts of wind of up to 70 kilometres per hour. Storm data from the Observatory showed that between 5pm and 11pm nearly 500 strokes of lightning were recorded in the Lantau region.
Sheeran’s performance was pushed back repeatedly but, with no let up in the weather, organisers chose to pull the plug at 9.20pm with an announcement over a tannoy. Fans left the site via the MTR and buses, with social media posts showing overcrowding and piles of discarded raincoats.
The singer followed his previous message with a video after 9pm announcing the show had been cancelled.
Posting on his Instagram page, a visibly dejected Sheeran announced the cancellation to fans from backstage: “People at the Kong Kong show. Sorry about the delay, it’s out of my hands. We have to wait for the lightning to pass for safety reasons, apologies again xx”
He revealed that organisers kept postponing the show for “another half-hour, [then] another half-hour”, adding: “I’m very, very sorry for wasting your time.”
Sheeran also told fans that information on how to obtain refunds would be shared.
Fans expressed disappointment on social media.
“Ed Sheeran just cancelled his concert in Hong Kong. I was [in the] front row. Can’t believe it,” a Twitter user named Anastasia posted at 9.30pm.
Hongkonger Isabella Wong said she was furious.
“Everybody was waiting in the rain for almost four hours! Why couldn’t you just cancel at the beginning if the thunderstorm was such a big deal to you! Shame on you, Ed Sheeran!”
The two-day Disneyland show was part of Sheeran’s Divide Tour. The singer performed at Disneyland on Wednesday.
Angry fans also flooded the promoter’s Facebook page, with some demanding to know why the show had not been called off sooner because of the Observatory’s forecast for thunderstorms.
“The thunderstorm warning was already announced at 5pm! How could you neglect the safety of all people standing for a few hours or above in front of the stage and facing the lightening! Totally ridiculous!” wrote user Tsui YT, while Jodi Kwok posted: “People were left in the pouring rain standing for hours and we’re all soaking and obviously not safe as well because of the thunderstorms. I’d rather you call it off earlier than keep us waiting and waiting without any contingency plans. Such a disaster.”
Ed Sheeran live in Hong Kong: fans get night to remember as star proves worth the wait
The singer cancelled his 2017 Hong Kong tour after injuring both arms in a cycling accident. The multi-Grammy Award winner had been due to play his second night’s show at Fantasy Road at 8.30pm.
Sheeran will next head to South Korea to perform in Seoul on Sunday.
