Daniel Caesar's Seoul Concert Controversy

Daniel Caesar, the Canadian artist currently embarking on his Superpowers World Tour (Asia), unexpectedly called off his Seoul performance at the Olympic Hall in Songpa District, southern Seoul, just three hours before its scheduled start on December 12.

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Despite assurances of full refunds for disappointed fans, the sudden cancellation caused an uproar, exacerbated by a live broadcast featuring Daniel’s backstage moments with Blackpink’s Jennie acting as his translator.

Why are Blackpink enthusiasts upset?

Canadian singer and songwriter Daniel Caesar abruptly canceled his Seoul concert at the Olympic Hall in Songpa District, southern Seoul, merely three hours before the scheduled performance on December 11 at 8 pm KST (Korean Standard Time) or 4:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time). This Seoul concert marked Daniel Caesar’s inaugural solo appearance in Korea.

Live Nation, the concert production company, cited unforeseen circumstances for the cancellation and expressed apologies to disappointed fans. However, an unexpected twist unfolded when Daniel shared a behind-the-scenes moment with Blackpink’s Jennie, who served as his translator. Despite fans being taken aback by her presence, Daniel faced backlash for what is perceived as an attempt to divert attention from the sudden cancellation by leveraging Jennie’s popularity.

The interaction between the two was broadcast live on the same day as the canceled concert, leading Blackpink fans to feel angered, interpreting it as a move to shift the focus away from the abrupt cancellation by utilizing Jennie’s popularity. The company subsequently canceled the entire Superpowers Tour (Asia) without providing specific reasons. Full refunds for both the canceled Tuesday concert and the preceding Monday performance, which proceeded as planned, will be automatically issued.

However, even before this incident, Daniel had faced significant backlash.

Daniel’s 2019 controversy

Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds, professionally known as Daniel Caesar, is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter who gained recognition with his first EP, “Praise Break” (2014). In 2019, Daniel Caesar became embroiled in controversy when he defended social media star YesJulz during an Instagram Live session, criticizing the Black community’s response to her racially insensitive tweet.

He questioned why Black people were being hostile towards white people and challenged the notion of equality. The ensuing backlash resulted in a decline in album sales, prompting Daniel to apologize days later. In a 2023 interview, he acknowledged his wrongdoing, expressing regret and offering apologies for his previous comments.

Jennie played a crucial role behind the scenes, assisting the Canadian singer with translations. The live broadcast also featured Daniel Caesar warmly greeting Jennie in English and sharing details about his day. Fans were pleasantly surprised by Jennie’s presence, commending her versatility and enjoying the unexpected collaboration. However, following the abrupt concert cancellation and the subsequent video broadcast, public sentiment did not favor the singer.