Apparently, water is larger than earth, wind and fire for Lionel Richie.
Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire canceled their sold-out Madison Square Garden show Saturday — an hour after it was set to start — when the singer said he was unable to fly into the Big Apple because of poor weather conditions.
The 20,000 fans in attendance, a few of whom spent a whole lot on tickets and hotel rooms, blasted the long-lasting singer for keeping them waiting “all night long.”
“As a consequence of severe weather and being unable to land within the NY and surrounding areas, I’m unable to make it to the show tonight,” the “Infinite Love” singer tweeted at 8:31 p.m. The show was scheduled to start out at 7:30 p.m.
“I’m so bummed. We’re rescheduling the show to Monday Aug 14. Can’t wait to perform for you all. Tickets for tonight’s show are valid for the show on Monday.”
Video from contained in the packed arena shows dejected fans booing and taking to the aisles as a spokesperson announced that the show had been canceled.
Footage also showed fans discussing whether or not they’d find a way to return to Manhattan on Monday.
Earth Wind and Fire is scheduled to play a show on the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut, without Richie on Monday.
It’s not clear in the event that they could be acting at the Garden or there that night.
“There was a variety of anger,” a pediatric nurse who paid $170 for nosebleed seats told The Post.
“We went out of the technique to get the weekend off and now I can’t go on Monday,” said the nurse, who got here in from Long Island along with her husband and coworker. “Does he think it’s easy for me to take off Monday night? That is Recent York. We work.”
Asked what she’d say to the “Hello” singer after the snafu, she said, “Hope you’re OK but it is best to have taken a limo to your fans for 4 hours. He’s loaded … take a f–king limo.”
A married couple who frequents MSG for live shows told The Post they began to understand something was up when the show still hadn’t began 45 minutes after it was set to start.
“You may’t sell out Madison Square Garden and [cancel due to] a weather issue. I’m frustrated and I’m concerned — I feel it may be something else. I’m nervous that it’s something else and that [the weather] was an excuse,” the girl said.
“So far as I do know, it was bad weather. I wouldn’t fly in bad weather either,” a security guard outside MSG said.
“S–t happens in life,” he said of the throng of offended fans.
Fans took to social media to specific their outrage on the Commodore’s frontman after he announced the cancellation, with many saying they spent good money on tickets, travel and hotels for the concert.
“We bought our parents good seats for a variety of money for his or her fiftieth wedding anniversary. They’re 75 and were really looking forward to tonight’s show. Thanks for ruining the gift we got for them,” one Twitter user wrote.
“After spending $1000 on two VIP tickets on a weekend, I hope we get a refund. Monday is just not an option. We also spent $500 on a hotel and likewise spent several hundred dollars on food in the world,” Julie Treska tweeted. “What an enormous bummer for my birthday!!! Ugh.”
Many fans questioned why Richie couldn’t have gotten to Recent York one other way from Boston, where he played a show with Earth Wind and Fire on Friday night.
“Feels like bad planning in your part @LionelRichie, attempting to fly in on the last minute. I’ll take a refund please – no due to Monday!” one other tweeted.
“No respect to your fans! You are not any Taylor Swift. Do higher. You would have driven from Boston,” Gail DeLuca said.
“Waiting all night long,” one other snarked, a reference to Richie’s 1983 hit.
