If fan engagement is the cornerstone of building a fan base, then berating them may be the best way to alienate them. Two weeks after cancelling a Birminghan, UK show due to illness, Pink wrote an open letter to her fans telling any that were upset to "Kindly kiss my entire almost back to healthy ass."
"I am getting a lot of hate mail…," the singer posted on her site.
What about rescheduling?
"There is no way I can make up this date. There isn't a way," according to Pink. "And for any
of you that believe in me, please know we did everything we could to try
to make it happen. Everything.
It's a logistical nightmare that is again, out of my control."
Here is the full text of the letter:
I sincerely apologize, AGAIN, for any inconvenience this may have caused
you. Sincerely.
I actually rode by the venue, and saw some of you in line, and there was
not a fucking thing I could do about any of it. Except cry. My heart
was absolutely broken.
I am getting a lot of hate mail from some of you, not all. But to those
of you that expect and feel entitled to perfection;
Have a look at my track record- please- in general- for tours past. I
have an incredible record. I do not cancel and I do not take it for
granted how much trouble people go to- from spending hard earned money
they don't have, to travel expenses and time and planning, etc. I take
NOnE of it for granted, EVER. That's why I never phone it in. I go on
stage and pour my fucking heart and body out on that stage.
I ruin my body and my vocal chords, make myself sicker, come hell or
high water.
I don't lip sync, I don't rely on dancers to do my work for me.
I try to put the best show on that I can, that any human being can, and I
don't stop until I know you're happy.
I am a human being, therefore I am able to catch illness. It is beyond
my control- and I can't apologize for that.
And you know what I've been performing through the last week? ROTA
virus. Look it up. I challenge any one of you to do what I do while sick
with that. You couldn't do it.
The fact that I don't get the benefit of the doubt from you saddens me.
There is no way I can make up this date. There isn't a way. And for any
of you that believe in me, please know we did everything we could to try
to make it happen. Everything.
It's a logistical nightmare that is again, out of my control.
And guess what? I might actually get sick again on this tour. Can you
imagine it? How dare I even think that?
I have a two year old who is building her immune system by getting sick
all over the place. And the fact that I even went on tour while being a
full time mom is a miracle in itself.
The next time I schedule dates- ill have to say to myself- "if, God
forbid I have to cancel one show, those fans will turn on me like rabid
dogs and question the moral fabric of my character."
For the loyal and understanding fans- I am so so sorry if I've hurt you in any way.
For the rest of you-
Kindly kiss my entire almost back to healthy ass.
Love always,
Alecia the human also known as p!nk
