Janet Jackson postponed several European tour dates because poor ticket sales meant she was "about to badly flop", according to reports.
The singer announced this week (08Mar16) that she would be postponing all her U.K. dates of her Unbreakable World Tour, along with some concerts in mainland Europe. However, the news that ticket holders were being given refunds led to the assumption the shows have been cancelled rather than just rescheduled.
Following Janet's announcement, many fans were left worrying about her health, as the singer underwent throat surgery in January (16). But a new report claims poor ticket sales were to blame for the date cancellations.
“She was about to flop, badly," a source told the New York Post's Page Six gossip column. "When an artist cancels an entire leg or postpones pieces of the tour, the real reason is because they’re not selling. It’s better to cancel than play a room that’s half-filled, especially if you’re Janet Jackson.”
However, an insider at Live Nation, the producers of Jackson's tour, denied the claims and said the ticket sales had been "decent" although not amazing.
"We were a month out and still very positive about the shows, but it didn’t make any sense to keep all the dates," the source said. "She’s very ambitious right now. And when you’re that ambitious, there becomes conflict.
"She has other businesses - some music, some brand-related. Janet has a complicated life. Her schedule was getting crazy, so we decided to pull this thing down... It may be moved to a later date."
Janet, who is still set to perform at the Dubai World Cup horse race in the United Arab Emirates on 26 March (16), has kept a low profile since she underwent surgery, but posted a video to her Twitter account in February telling fans, "Hey, you guys I'm here in London. I am so excited, we are so excited. We cannot wait to perform for you. See you soon."
She was spotted publicly for the first time since the operation at designer Haider Ackermann's runway presentation for Paris Fashion Week last weekend (05-06Mar16).
When she first announced the rescheduling of the second North American leg of her tour back in January, Janet was forced to deny rumours she was battling cancer. She wrote in a video message, "Remember... believe it when you hear it from my lips. The rumors are untrue. I do not have cancer. I'm recovering. My doctors have approved my concerts as scheduled in Europe, and as I promised, the postponed shows will be rescheduled."
