Stormzy Reschedules Asian Tour Due to Coronavirus Fears
U.K. grime rapper Stormzy announced on Thursday morning (Feb. 13) that he is postponing a scheduled Asian tour due to fears over the coronavirus.
"I was seriously looking forward to bringing the #HITH World tour to Asia and playing some epic sold out shows but due to the ongoing health and travel concerns surrounding the Coronavirus, I’m regrettably having to reschedule this leg of the Tour," he wrote.
The rapper said that information about rescheduled dates will be announced soon.
The news comes on the heels of a number of other events that have been called off due to the fear of the virus, which has infected more than 43,000 people globally and caused more than 1,300 deaths in China so far. Sony and Amazon also pulled out of the major technology show Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Monday due to concern over the virus.
A number of K-pop acts have also canceled or postponed shows in Southeast Asia in an effort to protect concertgoers in the region. Three stadium shows from GOT7’s world tour set to be held in Thailand and Singapore next month, as well as overseas events by Taeyeon and NCT Dream, have been postponed, while TWICE canceled two Tokyo fan signing events.
Other artists, including Infinite’s Kim Sung Kyu, have said they will take precautions at the venues of their upcoming South Korean concerts to ensure the health of audiences, including providing face masks and disinfectants.