Rod Stewart sparked fresh health concerns on Friday night when he was forced to pause his concert in West Valley City, Utah, and request medical assistance from his team. Footage obtained by TMZ shows staff rushing an oxygen tank onto the stage as the 81-year-old rocker grabbed at it, steadying himself against musical instruments while taking deep breaths of oxygen.
Fans Show Support Amid Scary Moment
The crowd continued to cheer loudly, showing Rod support, with one audience member urging him to 'take a break.' The Do Ya Think I'm Sexy hitmaker reassured fans by declaring 'the show must go on' before admitting that he 'nearly f****** fainted.' He then asked if they would mind if he 'sat down for this one' and perched on a set of stairs to perform a cover of Love Train by The O'Jays.
Recent Health Issues and Backlash
The incident comes after Rod was forced to cancel a concert in Chula Vista, California, at the last minute due to an acute upper respiratory infection that led to laryngitis. Fans had already queued when his team announced the cancellation on social media, stating: 'He travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take to the stage this evening.' Rod shared his own statement on Instagram, saying: 'Well here I am in beautiful Chula Vista as the stage is being taken down around me. Following treatment, I'm feeling much better, but my voice is not.' He insisted he 'did everything I could to make the show happen tonight' and promised to reschedule.
However, less than 24 hours later, he flew privately to Boston with two of his sons to attend the FIFA World Cup match between Scotland and Haiti, sparking backlash from disappointed fans. One follower commented: 'This feels rather disingenuous, especially after your cancellation last night. Too ill to perform but okay to fly across the country for soccer?'
Altitude May Have Played a Role
Rod's turn on Friday could be unrelated to his recent illness, as the venue in West Valley City is approximately 4,300 feet above sea level, meaning he may have been struggling with altitude. Despite the scare, Rod continued the show, demonstrating his commitment to his fans.
