Rod Stewart has spoken out about the backlash he received for attending a Scotland World Cup match shortly after canceling a concert due to illness. The 81-year-old singer admitted that his decision to attend the game "wasn't a good look" but stated he made the choice to support his two sons.
Stewart had been forced to cancel a show in California the night before the match due to a respiratory infection that had developed into laryngitis. His team announced the cancellation on social media, stating he had made every effort to perform but was advised against it by doctors. Stewart later posted a message on Instagram, apologizing to fans and explaining that while he was feeling better, his voice was not up to performing.
Less than 24 hours later, Stewart was pictured on a private jet with his sons, Alastair, 20, and Liam, 31, en route to Boston. He was later seen cheering at the stadium as Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in their opening World Cup match.
This sequence of events led to significant criticism online, with fans expressing disappointment and calling his actions "disingenuous." Many felt that seeing him attend the match so soon after canceling a show due to illness was hard to accept, especially for those who had traveled to see him perform.
Speaking to Jim White on talkSPORT, Stewart explained his reasoning: "The truth is, Jim, I wasn't going to let my two sons down. I promised them since they were born that we were going to go to a World Cup. And this is the first one that's come about."
Stewart acknowledged the public reaction, saying, "And it wasn't a good look, I admit, but I'm going to have to just take the stick. So I did it for the boys."
Days after the Scotland match, Stewart reportedly required an oxygen tank during a concert in Salt Lake City, even joking to the audience that he had "nearly f*****g fainted" while trying to complete the performance. Stewart is currently on the North American leg of his "One Last Time" farewell tour, which began in 2024.