In an unprecedented career moment, global music sensation Rosalia was compelled to cancel a concert mid-performance for the first time ever, due to a severe bout of food poisoning that forced her offstage. The 33-year-old Catalan artist was performing at the Unipol Forum in Milan on Wednesday when she abruptly announced to the audience that she was feeling extremely unwell.
Onstage Struggle and Emotional Announcement
Fan footage posted to social media platform X captured the poignant moment when Rosalia, visibly distressed, addressed the crowd. 'I've tried to do this show. Since the beginning I've been sick,' she explained, her voice strained. 'I've had, like, big time food poisoning and I've tried to push it till the end, but I'm feeling extremely sick.'
The Grammy-winning singer, known for hits like 'Malamente', continued with raw honesty, revealing 'I'm puking out there. And I really wanna give the best show, and I'm like on the floor, doing my best.' The audience responded with supportive cheers and understanding applause as she battled through her discomfort.
Vowing to Continue Before the Inevitable
Rosalia made a valiant effort to persevere, telling fans 'I'm really trying. I'm gonna push as much as I can.' However, she candidly admitted the physical limitations, stating 'if we have to stop - we might have to stop if I really physically, I can't keep going. I mean, I'm in pain.' Ultimately, the illness proved too overwhelming, and she walked offstage, offering a weak wave to the cheering crowd while wearing a pained expression.
Current Tour and Future Schedule
This unfortunate incident occurred during Rosalia's fourth international concert tour, named after and promoting her fourth studio album 'Lux', released last year. The tour began earlier this month with a concert in Lyon, France, followed by multiple shows in Paris and Zurich before the Milan performance.
If she recovers in time, Rosalia is scheduled to return to the stage this coming Monday for the first of four concerts at Madrid's Movistar Arena. The European leg will then continue through cities including Lisbon, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Cologne, and Berlin, culminating with two shows at London's O2 Arena on May 5 and 6.
Upcoming International Itinerary
After nearly a month's break, the tour will expand to North America, with performances in major cities like Miami, New York, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Subsequently, Rosalia is booked for an extensive Latin American run, visiting South American capitals including Bogotá, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro.
The tour will then head north to three Mexican cities—Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Monterrey, and Mexico City—before concluding with a show in San Juan, Puerto Rico on September 3.
Artist's Perspective on Touring
In a revealing interview last year with Billboard, Rosalia shared her complex relationship with touring. She described 'making albums and performing' as her 'mission,' noting that 'performing is an act for others.' However, she confessed 'I don’t like touring. I like to be onstage and I love my fans, so I do it.'
The singer expressed a preference for simpler pleasures, saying 'I love being in my home, calm, reading, cooking, going to the gym, lifting weights and going to sleep. Literally, that makes me so happy; I don’t need a lot.' She acknowledged the psychological challenges of constant travel but maintained gratitude for her career, recognizing that 'there are other jobs that have so much complexity and challenges, and I feel so grateful that I can be a musician.'
This Milan cancellation marks a rare disruption in what has otherwise been a meticulously planned and highly anticipated global tour, highlighting the physical demands even major artists face while maintaining rigorous performance schedules.
