Travis Scott left fans angry and confused Friday night after postponing his highly-anticipated concert at Chicago’s United Center just hours before he was set to take the stage. The “Sicko Mode” rapper offered no initial explanation for the last-minute cancellation.
Concert Cancelled With No Initial Reason Given
The show, part of Scott’s “Road to Utopia” tour, was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. However, just after 6 p.m., the United Center tweeted that the concert had been postponed and all tickets would be honored for a rescheduled show on January 26th.
Tonight’s Travis Scott show has been postponed until Thursday January 26th 2023. All tickets will be honored for the new date. More info coming soon. [1]
Fans had already begun lining up outside the venue when they received the shocking news. With no reason provided, speculation immediately erupted on social media as to why one of rap’s biggest stars would cancel mere hours before taking the stage.
Scott Offers Cryptic Explanation Via Instagram Story
Several hours after the announcement, Travis Scott posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story:
“SORRY TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SEE ME TONIGHT IN CHICAGO. WE’RE GONNA COME BACK ROCKIN SOON I PROMISE!” [2]
The vague apology still gave no details for what led him to pull out of the show at the last second. However, a report would soon emerge potentially explaining the 11th-hour cancellation.
Private Jet Delayed By Nearly 24 Hours After Stop in Ireland
On Saturday morning, an Irish media outlet reported that Scott, along with his entourage of nearly 50 people, had stopped to refuel his private Boeing 767 jet in Ireland en route to Chicago from the Middle East.
However, upon attempting to depart early Friday morning, the jet was temporarily grounded after failing to obtain proper authorization paperwork from Chicago Executive Airport – where Scott reportedly planned to land before taking a helicopter to the United Center.
It meant the plane was stuck on the runway for 23 and a half hours before eventually being allowed to take off just after midnight on Saturday morning. [3]
This delay, putting Scott seriously behind schedule, aligns with the timing of the show’s abrupt postponement. Sources told numerous outlets that landing the authorization likely took longer than usual due to Scott’s criminal history and safety concerns.
| Travis Scott’s Reported Travel Timeline |
|---|
| Early Fri AM: Attempts to depart private jet from Ireland to Chicago |
| Fri AM-PM: Jet delayed nearly 24 hours lacking proper Chicago authorization |
| Just after 6 PM Fri: United Center announces show postponement |
| 12 AM Sat: Jet finally departs Ireland after obtaining authorization |
If this sequence of events is accurate, Scott physically could not make it to Chicago in time for his 8 PM set. Between the nearly day-long tarmac wait and the overseas flight time, the lag would have made the show impossible according to insiders.
Lingering Astroworld Fallout Continues To Impact Scott
Beyond the suspected private jet issues, some believe Scott’s ongoing image problems stemming from last November’s deadly Astroworld Festival also factored into the Chicago postponement.
The rapper has become a controversial figure and struggled to schedule performances following the catastrophic concert production that left 10 dead and hundreds injured. He’s also embroiled in over 300 lawsuits alleging negligence and wrongful death.
“It’s likely Travis’ team is still having a hard time finding venues that will book him because of the Astroworld tragedy,” an inside source said. [4]
Indeed, Scott lost several major brand deals and saw his reputation badly damaged in the aftermath of Astroworld. The graphic footage and harrowing stories have left many with safety hesitations around the rapper’s events. Some insiders believe behind-the-scenes troubles could have again reared their head.
Disappointed Fans Air Frustrations Online
Expectedly, Scott’s Chicago faithful didn’t take kindly to the last second postponement. Angry, confused tweets flooded social media Friday night from fans who had taken off work, paid for travel, and waited outside the venue for hours.
“I flew here from Oregon to see Travis Scott only for him to POSTPONE 4 HOURS BEFORE THE SHOW!!,” one dismayed fan tweeted. [5]
Many called Travis “selfish” and “unprofessional” for leaving them high and dry with practically no notice. especially during the busy holiday season. Others demanded ticket refunds given the extreme inconvenience.
While some were simply crestfallen the show was delayed, loads of tweets displayed pure outrage over Scott’s perceived lack of respect for his supporters. The anger indicates the rapper’s standing with fans remains on unsteady ground – something likely exacerbated by Friday’s messy ordeal.
Travis Scott’s Future Concert Schedule Now Unclear
In the initial United Center postponement tweet, the venue claimed updated Travis Scott Chicago concert info was “coming soon.” However, details on the overall fate of his “Road to Utopia” remain murky.
The Chicago date was just the second stop on a sprawling global tour announced back in November. But it’s unclear if Scott’s tricky travel situation and the boomerang of bad PR from this canceled gig might impact plans to move forward.
There’s been no word from Scott’s camp on whether upcoming tour dates could also be in jeopardy. Industry insiders have emphasized that locking down venues amidst his complex legal and image issues continues proving challenging.
For now Scott still has a makeup Chicago date scheduled for January 26th. But fans likely feel some skepticism whether that show or others will actually come to fruition.
Final Thoughts: Difficult Road Ahead For Scott Regaining His Standing
The last-second show cancellation comes at a perilous time for Travis Scott’s career. His loyal fans, reputation, and earning power already suffered mightily since Astroworld resulted in tragedy.
This messy Chicago episode highlighted that Scott remains hamstrung by lingering fallout nearly a year later. The lack of venues willing to work with him coupled with growing public discontent presents obstacles to relaunching his prolific live performance dominance.
While a confluence of travel complications may have specifically spurred this postponed concert, it still served to dredge up bad memories. Scott missed a key opportunity to positively shift the narrative through a smooth Chicago show.
Instead his stature took another self-inflicted hit. Travis Scott now faces immense pressure to regain trust and salvage his plummeting music empire. Pulling off future concerts without issues is an absolute necessity if he hopes to restore his standing anytime soon.
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