Having cancelled her much-anticipated Las Vegas residency, questions are being asked about what’s really troubling Adele.
Battling Body Insecurities
Anxiety comes in many forms. For many of us, Covid-related isolation has led to a decrease in our mental health. Celebrities and high-profile individuals are no different. For Adele, however, the pandemic seems to have marked a turning point in the singer’s mindset.
Since the 2020 lockdown, Adele has had a major body transformation. It was later revealed that the record-breaking singer shed over seven stone. Some may see her weight loss as a consequence following a difficult divorce. But there could be more to this than initially meets the eye.
In the past, Adele herself admitted to having body insecurities. Photographs on her Instagram tend to show her shying away from the camera. During a 2017 tour, two performances were also cancelled with the singer saying she was ‘devastated’. But the 2022 Vegas tour is a much grander affair and the last-minute bailout (24 hours from the first performance commencing, to be exact) is proving to be far more damaging for the singer’s reputation. The justification, this time, was Covid absences leading to ‘half’ her crew being unavailable. The singer tearfully claimed, ‘My show ain’t ready’. Whether her fans truly believe this explanation is another question.
An Anxiety Epidemic?
It’s no secret that Adele has struggled with anxiety in the past. After withdrawing from two performances on her London tour, the star confirmed speculations of an anxiety-related mental illness. Adele admitted to having, ‘anxiety attacks and constant panicking on stage’ saying, ‘I never feel like I’m going to deliver, ever’. At the time, one could not help but sympathise with her problem given that her career depends on being able to ‘deliver’.
Zayn Malik, the former One Direction member, revealed a similar experience of being in the industry. He had to pull out of Capital’s Summertime Ball after suffering the ‘worst anxiety of my career’. This brings to light the importance of knowing what one is taking on when signing up for major events, especially if your mental state is not there. Professional singers such as Adele and Zain shouldn’t have to put their careers before their own well-being. And yet, that is exactly what has happened. Promoting their image has come at the expense of their health.
It is not uncommon to see mental illness amongst high-profile individuals. In fact, a 2021 survey found that 73 per cent of independent musicians struggle with mental illness. This number rises to 80 per cent in the 18-25 age group.
Truth Time
Adele was set to make over £500,000 a night from ticket sales alone. The fact that she has walked away from this astronomical sum suggests that something really has gone wrong. If she is retreating for mental health reasons, then this sets a precedent for other musicians out there. She has since reassured fans that the show will go on, just not right now.
As outsiders, we are forever looking in and wishing to have our say on the matter. However, fans or otherwise, only ever gain a small glimpse of a public person’s real life. Social media posts and twitter statements are hardly reliable evidence of what’s really going on. People have been calling for honesty in return for understanding. If the cancellations were in fact due to mental health issues, no one can justifiably accuse Adele of failing to meet her obligations. Poor mental health is never a choice.
Now that the dust is beginning to settle, Adele’s supporters are adamant that the singer will return. The only question is — when?
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