R&B star Brandy has revealed she suffered a health scare that forced her off stage early at a Chicago show after outraged fans demanded answers about her shock departure.
The iconic singer-songwriter, 46, sparked confusion when she left the United Center stage during the third performance of her and Monica’s The Boy Is Mine Tour on Saturday night.
Concertgoers rushed to social media with their frustration, with many demanding refunds as they speculated that the show’s abrupt end was due to technical difficulties.
But the Grammy award winner has broken her silence on her sudden exit, which attendees claimed slashed about 30 minutes off what was supposed to be a two-hour concert.
‘I sincerely apologize for the abrupt end to last night’s performance in Chicago,’ she shared in a social media statement on Sunday afternoon.
‘After weeks of nonstop rehearsals, last night I experienced dehydration and feelings of wanting to faint.
‘Everyone involved agrees that prioritizing my well-being was of the utmost importance.’
She added that she sought medical attention from a nearby doctor and will be returning to the stage to perform on Sunday night in Indianapolis.
Concertgoers have been demanding answers after R&B star Brandy (pictured) shocked the crowd when she walked off stage and never returned at a Chicago show
Brandy walked off (pictured) – with no warning that she wasn’t coming back – as she sang her 1994 hit song Baby to the packed arena that can hold up to 23,500 spectators
Brandy (left) sparked the confusion while touring with Monica (right)
During the fifth act of the Saturday concert, Brandy left in the middle of singing her 1994 hit song Baby to the packed arena that can hold up to 23,500 spectators.
According to the night’s set list, the song Baby was performed in act five of the six-act concert.
‘Give me one second y’all, I got to get my…’ Brandy said before she swiftly strutted to the backstage tech area, as captured by stunned fans’ videos.
Monica, 44, then wrapped up the cut-short show on her own – without saying goodbye or offering a reason for what happened.
The pair never had the chance to perform their highly anticipated 1998 duet, The Boy Is Mine.
‘No f**king way,’ one fan reacted when the arena’s lights turned on to indicate the show had ended. ‘What happened?’
Stunned by the jarring end of the show, Brandy’s supporters expressed both anger and concern online.
‘Brandy just threw a fit and left the stage 75 percent before the show was over and Monica had to finish the show by herself!’ one attendee blasted on X.
‘It’s crazy she walked off. On opening night, Monica had several mic and sound issues and continued,’ someone wrote.
Stunned by the jarring end of the show, which saw ticket prices hovering around $200, Brandy’s supporters have expressed both anger and concern online (pictured: the confused concert crowd)
‘What happened to the show must go on? Brandy is showing that she still a spoiled brat.’
‘Imagine going to the Boy Is Mine Tour and they never play the song,’ another shared.
‘It sounded like the music production was off beat. That probably upset her,’ one user suggested.
‘So this is 100 percent the engineer’s fault, I understand how frustrating that is.’
Others were far less sympathetic, demanding money back and calling the ’90s icon out for stepping off stage early.
‘So what? There’s thousands of people who paid for a f**king show. Get it together. You got a problem with the sound? You don’t storm off,’ one person asserted.
‘Yikes. Bad look, the biggest artists in the world would never do this,’ one woman wrote on X. ‘Give their money back!’
Some fans were worried about Brandy’s well-being from the get-go, sending prayers her way and hoping her shocking departure wasn’t due to a more serious issue.
Brandy (pictured) has not yet explained what caused her to abruptly end her performance
Brandy and Monica squashed their feud and have commemorated their reunion with the 24-city arena The Boy Is Mine Tour (pictured)
‘Hope Brandy is okay,’ one person wrote on Instagram. ‘God bless Brandy, feel better,’ another chimed in.
An Instagram page devoted to updates for The Boy Is Mine Tour issued a statement on the issue before Brandy spoke out.
‘She’s dedicated decades of her life to her fans, giving her all through her music, performances, and vulnerability. Sometimes, even the strongest lights need a moment to pause and breathe,’ the post read.
Once Brandy explained why she left the stage, an X user said: ‘I’m glad that Brandy put her health first.
‘Don’t get me wrong I’d be upset but she did the right thing. Chicago has the right to be upset but, true fans would understand & forgive her.’
‘So sorry for Brandy and everyone who experienced this. Hopefully some adjustments are made and maybe something special for Chicago,’ another supporter said.
Brandy (left) and Monica (right), who each famously go by their mononyms, announced their joint tour earlier this year
Before Brandy explained why she left so abruptly, fans expressed concern and outrage online
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Brandy and the tour for comment.
Brandy Norwood and Monica Arnold, who each famously go by their mononyms, announced their joint tour earlier this year – decades after the duo had a messy falling out after a backstage fight at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards.
They made amends years after the public feud began, commemorating their reunion with the 24-city arena The Boy Is Mine Tour. It kicked off on Thursday in Cincinnati.
‘Bringing Brandy and Monica together for this tour is more than just a moment – it’s a cultural homecoming,’ Shelby Joyner, President of Black Promoters Collective, said when the tour was announced.
‘Their impact on R&B is immeasurable, and ‘The Boy Is Mine’ continues to be one of the most iconic collaborations of all time.’
