Paramore Cancels US Tour Due to Hayley Williams Infection
Paramore has canceled the remainder of its North American tour after frontwoman Hayley Williams battled a lung infection during the final week of the show.
The ‘Misery Business’ and ‘Still Into You’ hitmakers had already postponed four July dates due to Williams’ ongoing illness and apparently resumed their This Is Why tour before she fully recovered. Now their shows in Oregon and Utah have been canceled.
“We are all so sorry that you have been so patient with us as we have rescheduled these dates and also likely changed travel plans to allow them to still go ahead. I am physically unable to continue,” Williams said in an Thursday Band statement Instagram. “I know this is not good news for anyone. Thank you for your continued support.”
The 34-year-old said she hopes a week off from performing and “a strict medical routine” would allow her body “to heal enough to finish this tour strong.” But now, she said, she’s passed that point after revealing that performing from Houston to LA in mid-July got her muscular
“I’ve done everything I can to fight this infection so we don’t have to disappoint anyone with more news of postponements and cancellations,” the pop punk star said. “After struggling through the past few shows and consulting with my doctor, we sadly find that there is no longer a need to assert yourself in order to provide you all with a good show.
“I am now risking long-term damage and need to take care of my body. With that in mind, and with a heavy heart, we must cancel our remaining shows in Portland and Salt Lake City,” she said.
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The Grammy-winning singer embarked on the tour in October alongside co-songwriter/guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro in support of the trio’s sixth studio album. Last week, the group was announced as the opening act for Taylor Swift’s massive Eras Tour, and plan to join the “Anti-Hero” singer when she kicks off the tour’s European leg in 2024. (Paramore served as the opening act when Swift launched Eras in March.)
Williams – who said she endured “misery, sadness and copious amounts of antibiotics and steroids” for a week during her illness – previously defended the band’s decision rescheduling shows in San Francisco, Seattle and Oregon last month. Critics who dubbed them “internet brothers” berated them online, pointing out that older rock bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden and Dave Grohl endured their respective shows with severe ailments.
“Internet bros have been beset by my exposure to rock music and all of its subgenres since 2005,” Williams replied on Instagram Stories last week. “The only thing that has changed is the platform from which they spread their ignorance. Don’t think for a second that your favorite bands – metal, punk or otherwise – support your weird incel lifestyle. So many of these bands stand off the stage at our shows and treat us with respect. Why? because they are not being threatened by a strong woman leading a great band in a completely different genre of music.”
“I cry because I laugh at myself. I love when I have this much time,” Williams added. She previously pointed out, “Touring is different at 34 than it was at 16, when leaving home felt like the ultimate escape.”
Earlier this week, NBA superstar Steph Curry was the fan chosen by the band members to join them on stage at their postponed show at San Francisco’s Chase Center. The Golden State Warriors point guard took the mic and brought the text to the point her signature song “Misery Business”.
On Wednesday, the band played their final show of the tour at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. The next Paramore show is scheduled for October 6th when the band will play the New York Festival. Performances are scheduled to resume in New Zealand and Australia in November before the band travels to Europe with Swift between May and August 2024.
