Adele’s heartache surrounding her cancelled Las Vegas shows continued last week as reports cruelly blamed her “diva demands” for her pulling the plug at the final hour.
Thousands of fans – some of whom had travelled from around the world – were devastated when the Easy On Me singer, 33, tearfully explained she was postponing her three-month run just 24 hours before she was due to take to the stage for her first performance.
In a video on Instagram, Adele – who signed a multi-million-pound deal for her highly-anticipated residency – sobbed, “I’m so sorry, but my show isn’t ready. We’ve been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and Covid. Half my crew … are down with Covid – they still are – and it’s been impossible to finish the show.” Adding that they had been awake for over 30 hours trying to “figure it out,” she said, “I’m so upset and I’m really embarrassed.”
As the news broke, social media was filled with stories from fans who’d taken time off work, spent thousands on flights and hotels and splashed-out up to £5,000 to see their idol at Caesars Palace, on the famous Las Vegas strip.
While Adele made FaceTime calls to disappointed fans, reports soon surfaced suggesting Covid had been a “convenient excuse” amid allegations of her “diva” requests, “friction” with her management team and a fallout over a set stunt that involved her standing in a pool. Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan even branded her a “privileged, pampered prima donna,” as another source claimed she insisted on replacing the state-of-the-art sound system at the venue’s Colosseum theatre – despite it being used by superstars including Mariah Carey and Celine Dion in the past.
Now, as the Tottenham-born star – who’s been candid about her battle with anxiety – lies low with her sports-agent boyfriend, Rich Paul, 39, in LA, insiders say she is struggling with the backlash.
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A source says, “Adele’s not in a good way, she’s struggling to eat or sleep. Postponing the residency wasn’t a decision she took lightly, and she’s simply not used to such a backlash and to such bitter attacks from fans. She’s very sensitive and she isn’t someone who can just brush off such harsh criticism, no matter how much people urge her to ignore it. Her loved ones and her team are worried about her, and they’ve suggested she take some time out.”
The source continues, “Adele’s family back home – especially her mum, who she is very close to – are all begging her to come home. Her mum can see she’s fragile and has told her she needs their comfort and love. She doesn’t want her to keep herself isolated in LA, when she could be with them.
“But Adele is torn because it’s easier to hide-out and escape the storm in LA, and she’s petrified about the backlash she could receive back home. She is very proud to be British, and the thought of UK fans feeling disappointed in her leaves her feeling sick. Everything feels very daunting right now.”
Check out: the most shocking celeb splits
Most shocking breakups of the decade - slider
1 of 30Louise and Jamie Redknapp
They were the British A-list couple that we thought would last but the world was stunned in July 2017 when Louise and Jamie Redknapp confirmed they'd split after 19 years together. Months later Louise opened up about the end of her marriage and following the end of the Redknapp marriage, it was reported that celebrities were refusing to sign up to the BBC show because of the Strictly curse.
2 of 30Cheryl and Ashley Cole
Cheryl and Ashley Cole first met in 2004 and quickly became an A-list couple. Two years later they tied the knot in an extravagant wedding. However, in 2010 following cheating allegations that were splashed across the media, Chez split from her footballer husband.
3 of 30Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin had been together for 23 years and married for 11 but in January 2018, the TV presenter confirmed he was filing for divorce following his rehab stint.However after a drink driving arrest, a second visit to rehab and liking a lot of shady tweets – the pair officially divorced nine months after splitting.
4 of 30Lenny Henry and Dawn French
At the beginning of the decade, Dawn French and Lenny Henry announced they were splitting after 25 years of marriage.
5 of 30Paul and Alex Hollywood
Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood and his wife Alex split after 20 years together. They'd previously split in 2013 after the GBBO star had an affair with his American co-star but they managed to patch things over and make things work. For a while.
6 of 30Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
We still can't believe Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split in 2016 after ten years together and two years marriage. The couple are parents to six children; Maddox, 18, Shiloh, 13, Pax, 16, Zahara, 14, Vivienne, 11, and Knox, 11. Even George Clooney was stunned at the news; well, to be fair he did find out during an interview.
7 of 30Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
We thought they'd be a real-life Romeo and Juliet (minus the death) but Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green called it quits after being married for three years. We weren't the only ones who thought they were a power couple; remember when Craig Lawson joked he'd be the next Pro Green and Millie with Camilla Thurlow? Yeah, that didn't last.
8 of 30Bruce and Kris Jenner
They're the head of the Kardashian/Jenner household but in 2013 the world was shocked when Bruce and Kris Jenner announced they had separated after 23 years of marriage. A year later, Kris filed for divorce and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. A month after their divorce was finalised, Bruce publicly came out as a transgender woman – Caitlyn.
9 of 30Katy Perry and Russell Brand
One of the most heart-breaking celebrity break ups was definitely Katy Perry and Russell Brand, after all, she found out their 14-month marriage ended via TEXT. Their entire split was shown on her documentary Part of Me and remarkably Katy still performed on stage just hours after Russell announced he wanted to end their marriage.
10 of 30Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had only known each other for three weeks before they tied the knot. Yes, really. They lasted four years before the Keeping Up with The Kardashians star filed for divorce. However, in 2015 she withdrew the file after Lamar suffered a drug overdose and she had to take control of his health decisions. There were reports that the pair would reunite but in 2016 their divorce was finalised.
11 of 30Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
Kim appeared to have followed in the footsteps as her younger sister Khloe when she got engaged to Kris Humphries after just seven months. She documented her 'dream' wedding on Keeping Up with The Kardashians but their relationship didn't last and they split just 72 DAYS after their wedding. Their breakup was also documented on their show.
12 of 30Stormzy and Maya Jama
We're still devastated about Stormzy and Maya Jama splitting, tbh. They were the dream team and had been together for four years – despite being very private they appeared in Vogue magazine together and the grime artist dedicated a song to her. However in August 2019 they called it quits and the TV presenter unfollowed him on Instagram.
13 of 30Seal and Heidi Klum
Seal and Heidi Klum renewed their wedding vows every year on their anniversary however after a seven-year marriage they called it quits. The A-list couple are parents to four children; Leni (who Heidi had from a previous relationship, but Seal adopted) and during their relationship they also welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou into the world.
14 of 30Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray
After dating for 10 years and then being married for four, Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray called time on their marriage. The pair confirmed the news in a statement saying, "This was a very difficult decision, but was reached mutually and amicably. No other parties are involved."
15 of 30Liam Payne and Cheryl
We're pretty sure the world was shocked when Liam Payne and Cheryl announced they were dating. However they then went on to welcome baby Bear Grey Payne into the world and despite breakup rumours they posed together at the Brit Awards in 2018. Unfortunately a few months later – and a total of two years together - they split.
16 of 30Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
This break up is still a bit weird and we're not really sure why it happened because – spoiler alert – they're not real people. Anyways, in 2015 the puppets announced the end of their relationship in a lengthy statement.
17 of 30Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
Another KUWTK break up – this one more surprising than the others – was Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. The pair had been together for nine years and during that time they welcomed Mason, Penelope and Reign. They'd split a few times throughout their relationship – which included Scott doing to rehab and cheating allegations. However in 2015 they split for good.
18 of 30Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
Cheryl literally surprised the world when she announced on Instagram that she had eloped with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after three months of dating. The pair seemed totally in love until Cheryl raised concerns among fans after losing a lot of weight and slammed any split rumours by revealing her father in law had died. Unfortunately their romance wasn't to last and after 18 months of marriage they split.
19 of 30Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Little Mix's Perri Edwards and One Direction's Zayn Malik were X Factor sweethearts. They supported each other's career, posted adorable snaps and even got a puppy together. The singers then got engaged but two years later – following cheating accusations and after Zayn quit One Direction – it came to light that he ended their relationship. While she claimed he dumped her via text, he denied it.
20 of 30Adele and Simon Konecki
She's notoriously private with her life but in 2019 is came to light that Adele and her husband Simon Konecki had split. Awhopping £145m is the figure being talked about in relation to their divorce. In 2012 they welcomed their only child into the world – Angelo.
21 of 30Chris Pratt and Anna Faris
Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced they were splitting back in 2018 and a few months later their divorce was finalised. At the time they released a statement, saying: "We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. "Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward."They went on to say they "still have love for each other".
22 of 30Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Step Up stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan called it quits after being married for eight years. At the time they insisted they'd "lovingly chosen to separate as a couple". During their relationship they welcomed their daughter Everly into the world.
23 of 30Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk
We were devastated in June 2019 when one of the hottest A-list couples – Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk – split after four years together. Apparently the parents to their daughter Lea De Seine hadn't "been good for a few months".
24 of 30Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes dated for seven years and were married for six but in 2012 it came to light that she had filed for divorce. He later spoke out and admitted he "did not expect" the turn of events.
25 of 30Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Friends star Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux called it quits after being married for two years. At the time they said the "decision was mutual and loving" and it appeared to be the truth because a year later to paid tribute to his ex-wife to celebrate her 50th birthday.
26 of 30Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Victoria's Secret model and Hollywood actor Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom broke up after six years together. After being married for three years they announced they'd been "amicably separated for the past few months" before confirming their relationship had ended.
27 of 30Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lived a real-life story after falling in love on the set of The Last Song. However after four years together they split. They were then on/off but decided to call it quits AGAIN after eight years together. Their relationship didn't end there though because they reunited and got married but eight months after their wedding they split again.
28 of 30Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Another couple who took the world by surprise were Twilightstars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. They met on the set of the vampire phenomenon back in 2009 and fell in love. While we all thought it would last, it didn't. Their relationship hit a rough patch in 2012 when Kristen's affair with her married director Rupert Sanders was exposed by paparazzi. Robert forgave her and they tried to make it work but they split a few months later.
29 of 30Fergie and Josh Duhamel
After eight years together Fergie and Josh Duhamel announced their split. Fast forward two years and Fergie filed for divorce.
30 of 30Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan
In news that shocked Friends fans the world over, In February 2022 it was reported that Matt LeBlanc - best known for playing Joey Tribbiani on the show – had split from his girlfriend of six years, Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.
Adele has previously revealed a long-term battle with stage fright, which has led her to vomit before performances and even turn down jobs. And last year she spoke about “terrifying anxiety attacks” following her heartbreaking split from ex-husband Simon Konecki, with whom she shares son Angelo, eight. She coped by throwing herself into gym sessions, alongside sound baths, therapy, meditation and “a lot of time” on her own. And as a result, she lost an incredible 7st.
Insiders told last year how the notoriously private star was struggling to cope with being thrust back into the spotlight following a five-year hiatus. And now she faces more pressure to deliver on stage – as she’s also set to perform two gigs in London’s Hyde Park in June.
The source adds, “After almost two years of travelling regulations and not being able to come home to her family, Adele has been really looking forward to her dates in the UK so she can spend more time with her loved ones.
“But now, she feels she has so much on her shoulders. She knows if anything goes wrong again, especially in the UK, it could damage her reputation again. Thankfully she has a great support network around her, and they’ve been helping her realise how much support and love she still has from her fans. Her boyfriend has been her rock – he’s a sports star agent, so he knows how to handle things like this and has been reassuring her that it will blow over in time and that she is very much adored for a good reason – because she is so great at what she does.
“She’s agreed to take some time out to get some space and mental clarity so she can come back bigger and better than ever. She’ll prove to the world that she is still the Adele her fans fell in love with at the start of her journey to stardom.”
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PR expert: 'She’s honest and humble – she can bounce back from this'
Celebrity expert Nick Ede (right), who runs London-based PR agency East of Eden and has worked with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Eva Longoria, says Adele’s cancelled tour has been a “disaster”, but that the star can turn her fortunes around by connecting with her fans.
Nick says, “Adele has always been extremely honest with her fans, and she’s always had a really supportive team behind her. This isn’t the first time she’s had to cancel a show [Adele was force to cancel two concerts in 2017 due to problems with her vocal chords], but it is the first time she’s been put into a situation where fans are questioning the reasons.
“Adele is used to her fans being incredibly loyal, and a lot of them have grown up with her. To feel like she’s let them down is probably, for Adele, one of the worst things she could ever feel. There’s no doubt this will highlight her anxiety.
“The whole thing is a disaster – everybody is blaming everybody and there are lots of fans, organisations and brands involved here. This isn’t about one person, it’s a whole machine.
“From Adele’s point of view, there’s a lot on her shoulders. If her team gave details of what went wrong, and it then went public, I feel they’ve thrown her under the bus and she’s been used as a scapegoat.
“Yet not only is Adele a brilliant performer, she has a great personality, too. She connects with so many people – but she must be open with her supportive fans as much as she can going forward. Adele is honest, loyal and humble – that’s her superpower. She can bounce back by speaking openly to her fans at the Brit Awards.”