- Justin Timberlake canceled his final U.S. tour stop in Columbus, Ohio, leaving fans frustrated. Just 10 minutes before the show, Timberlake announced on Instagram that he was canceling his performance due to the flu.
- The abrupt cancellation left thousands of fans stranded in 37-degree weather, with many having traveled long distances to attend the show.
- Despite Timberlake promising refunds, it’s unclear if Columbus fans will get a rescheduled date, and his next scheduled performance is in Argentina on March 21.
Full Story
Justin Timberlake canceled his final U.S. tour stop in Columbus, Ohio, just minutes before showtime. The last-minute decision left fans frustrated, with many questioning why the call wasn’t made sooner.
Media Landscape
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At 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, Timberlake announced on Instagram that he was canceling his performance at Nationwide Arena. The show was set to begin at 7:30 p.m. The singer said he was “heartbroken” over the decision but assured fans they would receive refunds.
Timberlake explained that he had battled the flu during soundcheck. However, some fans questioned the timing of the cancellation. They pointed out that he knew he was sick earlier and wondered why the decision wasn’t made sooner.
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Fans left out in the cold
The abrupt cancellation left thousands of fans stranded outside in Columbus’ 37-degree weather. Inside the venue, an announcement instructed attendees to exit immediately. Many had traveled long distances,
“I traveled pretty far to be here at this show,” one disappointed fan shared in a TikTok video.
Some Columbus fans may be experiencing déjà vu. This marks the second time Timberlake has postponed a concert in Ohio.
Back in October, he canceled another Columbus performance, citing bronchitis and laryngitis. This latest cancellation adds to a pattern of health-related tour delays.
Backlash on social media
Hours before the cancellation, Timberlake’s wife, Jessica Biel, posted a tribute celebrating his final U.S. tour stop. Fans quickly flooded the comments, expressing frustration and saying the post “didn’t age well.”
Some compared Timberlake to Taylor Swift, who only canceled one show during her two-year “Eras Tour”— and that was due to a terrorist attack.
Not everyone was critical. Some fans urged others to show empathy, with one commenting, “It’s okay to be upset, but remember he’s human, too.”
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While Timberlake has promised refunds, it’s unclear if Columbus fans will get a rescheduled date. His next scheduled performance is in Argentina on March 21 as part of the international leg of his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour.”
For now, fans are left wondering if Timberlake will make it up to them — or if Columbus will remain a city of cancellations.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
JUST MINUTES BEFORE JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’S FINAL U-S TOUR STOP WAS SET TO BEGIN IN COLUMBUS, OHIO… THE SHOW WAS CANCELED – AND FANS ARE NOT HAPPY.
IN A STATEMENT ON INSTAGRAM AROUND 7:20 P-M THURSDAY NIGHT – JUST TEN MINUTES BEFORE SHOWTIME – THE SINGER SAID HE WAS HEARTBROKEN OVER HAVING TO CANCEL AFTER BATTLING THE FLU DURING SOUNDCHECK. HE ASSURED FANS THEY WOULD RECEIVE REFUNDS… BUT THAT DID LITTLE TO SOOTHE THE DISAPPOINTMENT.
MANY PEOPLE WERE STILL WAITING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM TO GET IN .. WITH A LOW TEMPERATURE OF 37 DEGREES IN COLUMBUS THURSDAY NIGHT. INSIDE THE VENUE – AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ASKING ATTENDEES TO EXIT IMMEDIATELY WHICH LEFT MANY FEELING FRUSTRATED – ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO TRAVELED LONG DISTANCES.
“I TRAVELED PRETTY FAR TO BE HERE AT THIS SHOW.”
SOME FANS QUESTION THE TIMING – POINTING OUT THAT TIMBERLAKE LIKELY KNEW HE HAD THE FLU ALL DAY AND ASKING WHY THE DECISION WASN’T MADE EARLIER IN THE DAY TO CANCEL.
AND SOME COLUMBUS FANS MAY BE EXPERIENCING DEJA VU…BECAUSE THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME A TIMBERLAKE PERFORMANCE IN OHIO HAS BEEN CALLED OFF. LAST OCTOBER… *ANOTHER SHOW WAS POSTPONED DUE TO BRONCHITIS AND LARYNGITIS – ADDING TO A PATTERN OF HEALTH RELATED DELAYS THROUGHOUT HIS TOUR.
TIMBERLAKE’S WIFE – JESSICA BIEL – MADE A TRIBUTE POST TO HIM AHEAD OF THE SHOW.. CELEBRATING HIS FINAL U-S TOUR STOP. THE COMMENTS SECTION FILLED WITH SOME FANS EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION.. WITH SOME SAYING THE POST “DIDNT AGE WELL.” ANOTHER EVEN DREW COMPARISONS TO TAYLOR SWIFT – WHO ONLY CANCELED THREE SHOWS DURING HER TWO YEAR “ERAS TOUR” – AND THAT WAS DUE TO A TERRORIST ATTACK.
BUT NOT EVERYONE IS CRITICIZING TIMBERLAKE. SOME ARE REMINDING FANS TO SHOW COMPASSION.. WITH ONE INSTAGRAM USER COMMENTING ON HIS POST – “It’s ok to be in your feelings about it. But please also remember he is human too & sometimes things happen even though we take every step possible to try to prevent them. I know he feels so bad about having to cancel.”
LAST MINUTE CANCELLATIONS ARE NEVER EASY FOR FANS.. AND THERE’S NO OFFICIAL WORD ON IF COLUMBUS WILL BE RESCHEDULED AGAIN. BUT AS OF NOW.. TIMBERLAKE KICKS OFF THE INTERNATIONAL LEG OF HIS TOUR AT THE END OF MARCH.. STARTING IN ARGENTINA.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 39%
Center 38%
Right 23%
Bias Summary
- Justin Timberlake canceled his concert in Columbus, Ohio, due to the flu shortly before it was scheduled to begin on February 27.
- Fans who purchased tickets will receive refunds, as announced in his Instagram post.
- This event marked the last stop on the U.S. Leg of the tour, following several previous cancellations due to illness.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize fan disappointment due to multiple cancellations, highlighting a pattern of frustration.
Media outlets in the center
underscore the logistical aspect of refunds, presenting a cleaner narrative with fewer emotional undertones.
Media outlets on the right
critique the last-minute cancellation, indicating heightened fan resentment and urgency.
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Bias Distribution
29 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
29
Leaning Left
5
Center
5
Leaning Right
3
Last Updated
23 hours ago
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