Crew members for Megan Thee Stallion and Jonas Brothers recently tested positive for COVID-19, forcing both acts to cancel Thursday night’s Jingle Ball concert at State Farm Arena.
The Power 96.1/iHeart Media-sponsored concert also lost its other big act Doja Cat, who caught COVID-19 herself earlier in the week and dropped out of the tour. She has experienced a mild case but is taking standard precautions.
“While my spirits are down since I can’t be there to celebrate the holiday with my fans in Philly, DC, Atlanta and Miami, I’m doing OK and look forward to recovering and getting back out there as soon as I can!” the 26-year-old rapper wrote on Instagram earlier in the week. “The rest of the tour stops have some really great lineups, wish I could be there. Much love, XO.”
“We are extremely disappointed that we can’t be there with our fans in Atlanta,” the Jonas Brothers wrote on their Instagram Story.
Megan Thee Stallion’s social media posted a note that included this: “While I tested negative today, I’m not feeling well, and as a safety precaution, I won’t be able to perform at Jingle Ball in Atlanta. I’m extremely disappointed to let my hotties down.”
Megan Thee Stallion, the Jonas Brothers and Doja Cat are among the hottest acts of the past three years in the pop music scene.
That left a gaping hole in the lineup. The biggest name left on the bill was the Black Eyed Peas, who had most of their hits in the 2000s, including “I Gotta Feeling,” “Boom Boom Pow” and “Where is the Love?” Fergie is no longer part of the group.
The other acts left on the bill: Big Time Rush, Tate McRae, Monsta X, Bazzi, Dixie D’Amelio and Tai Verdes.
Some on Twitter complained about the sudden cancellations and were demanding refunds. A spokeswoman for iHeartMedia has not yet responded to an email seeking comment.
Deborah Raptis, a local TV producer who brought her teenage son and daughter to the concert, got the tickets as a gift from her sister. She was told at the entrance point about the cancellations and a concert staff member gave her the option to stay or leave. She thinks that folks who chose not to enter may have the option to get a refund.
She chose to go in and though her teens were disappointed with the absences, they still enjoyed the concert. She noticed a lot of empty seats, though, probably because of the cancellations.
Over the past years, the Jingle Ball has featured the likes of Justin Bieber (2012), Miley Cyrus (2013), Fall Out Boy (2014), Bieber again (2015), Ariana Grande (2016), Demi Lovato (2017), Shawn Mendes (2018) and Khalid (2019). The Jonas Brothers also appeared in 2019.
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