Canadian R&B singer Haley Smalls has abruptly canceled her Beijing tour stop scheduled for April 30, just one week before the performance. While artists in recent years have often cited "force majeure" as a vague reason for cancellations, the organizer in this case provided a specific explanation: the singer's fear of flying combined with an inability to secure high-speed rail tickets.
The unusual reasoning quickly sparked heated discussion among mainland netizens, with the topic trending on Weibo. Some mocked the excuse, joking "I wouldn't even dare use this reason to skip class," while others expressed understanding, saying "it feels like the organizer is already at their wits' end."
In a statement released on April 22, the organizer announced that the Beijing stop—originally set to take place at TheDoorSpace—would be canceled. The statement cited "the unique challenges of securing high-speed rail tickets during the May Day holiday" and "the artist's concerns about flying, including apprehension toward air travel and airlines such as China Eastern Airlines," as key factors behind the decision. The organizer promised full refunds and issued an apology to fans.
According to the original schedule, Smalls' China tour included Beijing on April 30, Shanghai on May 1, Shenzhen on May 3, and Guangzhou on May 4—coinciding with China's busy May Day holiday travel period, when high-speed rail tickets on popular routes are in extremely high demand. Beijing was set as the opening stop, and as recently as April 17, the organizer had been actively promoting the show, describing the singer as possessing a "soulful, hazy, and captivating R&B voice."
Further details from mainland media reports indicate that the organizer confirmed the cancellation was due to the failure to secure train tickets. As the artist is from Canada and unfamiliar with China's ticket waitlist system, there were concerns about potential disruptions to the rest of the tour schedule.
Staff also revealed that Smalls has a fear of flying and was unwilling to travel by air. A previously planned flight from Shanghai to Shenzhen was ultimately canceled at her insistence and replaced with a 7.5-hour high-speed rail journey. All other domestic travel arrangements for the tour were similarly shifted to rail.
Addressing speculation that the cancellation was due to poor ticket sales, the organizer denied the claim, emphasizing that the Beijing show had already sold out. The company acknowledged that the last-minute cancellation would result in significant financial losses but expressed understanding of the artist's decision, describing her as "very individualistic."
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