Lewis Capaldi, the renowned Glasgow-born singer, has made a heartbreaking announcement following his performance at Glastonbury. He revealed that he will be taking a hiatus from his world tour “for the foreseeable future” due to his ongoing struggle with Tourette’s syndrome.

During his performance at Glastonbury last month, Capaldi faced difficulties while singing his hit song Someone You Loved. The audience stepped in and enthusiastically sang along to support him.

In a statement on Instagram, Capaldi expressed his gratitude to Glastonbury for inviting him and to the audience for their support during the performance. He acknowledged the challenges he faces with his Tourette’s and the impact it has on his ability to perform.

Capaldi was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in 2022, a condition that causes sudden twitches, movements, or sounds called “tics.” He has been undergoing Botox injections to manage and control the muscles most affected by his tics.

In his statement, Capaldi shared his struggle to adjust to the impact of Tourette’s on his performances. He realised that he needs to prioritise his mental and physical well-being to continue doing what he loves. Consequently, he made the difficult decision to take a break from touring to focus on his health.

Capaldi expressed his gratitude to his family, friends, team, and medical professionals for their support. He also apologised to his fans who had planned to attend his shows for the rest of the year, emphasising his desire to feel well and perform at the standard they deserve. He assured them that returning to the stage is his ultimate dream and that he will be back as soon as possible.

During his Glastonbury performance, Capaldi openly acknowledged his struggle with tics, even jokingly stating that he was annoying himself during the show. The crowd responded by chanting his song, allowing him a moment to regroup and manage his tics.

Capaldi has previously mentioned that the stress of creating his second album intensified his tics. Strong emotions, stress, and anxiety trigger his condition. Despite the challenges, Capaldi remains grateful for the privilege and luxury he enjoys. However, he has stated that if his quality of life becomes significantly diminished, he would consider quitting.

Lewis Capaldi first shared his Tourette’s diagnosis in September 2022 through an Instagram live session. He described the condition as being present in various intensities, sometimes causing discomfort. Capaldi’s decision to prioritise his well-being reflects his commitment to managing his condition and ensuring a sustainable career. 

His highly-anticipated Australian tour scheduled for July had been due to kick off in Sydney on July 8th, followed by shows in Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne before taking part in the Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron, New South Wales. 

The sold-out tour was due to showcase Lewis’s album, released in May, titled Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent. Since its release, he has scored a total of five number-one hits in the UK.

The album is the follow-up to his 2019 debut, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, which achieved remarkable success, becoming the best-selling album in the UK for two years.

For Australian customers who had tickets for the tour, Ticketek advises that they will be automatically refunded in full to the original payment method used for purchase. Patrons do not need to take any action.

Ticketek added that patrons should allow approximately 30 business days for the refund to appear in their account. If you require any additional support, contact Ticketek.

Published in Anglo&Celtic magazine, 1 July 2023.